1- Bobal

The Bobal variety is the star of the Utiel-Requena Protected Designation of Origin, since it accounts for 80% of the production. The DO Utiel-Requena is located in the interior of the province of Valencia. It is a small almost circular plateau of more than 1,800 km2, located 70 km from the Mediterranean Sea and with an altitude between 600 and 900 meters .


2- Synonyms

The bobal is also known by the following names:

  1. Provechón,
  2. Requena,
  3. Canonao,
  4. Boal,
  5. Boral,
  6. Bogal,
  7. Requeno,
  8. Bovati.

3- Agronomically

Bobal is a very widespread variety in the viticulture of the Central and Levante Region and specifically in the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin.

4- Characteristics of the Bobal grape:

Bunches:

Large, with very marked shoulders, very compact.

With berries of uniform size, with short peduncle and well lignified.

Berries:

Medium to large in size with an occasional flattened spherical shape.

With very dark, blue-black epidermis, with semi-marked lenticels and a patent navel.
Thick and consistent skin.
With uncolored pulp, soft and very juicy, with a fruity flavor tending to herbaceous.

5- Characteristics of the bobal strains:

Strains:

Very vigorous with a flat appearance, with very thick wood and a reddish-brown color. High fertility and high production.


Sumities:

Open, compact with slight anthocyanin pigmentation, with brown ocher and high density of very white and compact lying hairs.


Branches:

– With internodes with red stripes on both the dorsal and ventral sides, the nodes are green on the ventral side and dark green with red or totally red stripes on the dorsal side.

– With low density of hair lying in the knot and light to high in the internodes. When the branch is dry, it gives rise to streaked reddish-brown or purple shoots.


Young leaves:

Of weak anthocyanin pigmentation with a very high density of white lying hairs.


Adult leaves:

Large in size, orbicular in shape and with five well-defined lobes. With evident polymorphism.

Petiolar sinus in a very closed V, with widely overlapping petiolar lobes.

With a very intense green beam, very puffy and with a warped outline.

With shallow lower lateral sinuses and very deep upper lateral sinuses and some teeth at the bottom. The upper lobes are superimposed.

The underside is very hairy with abundant arachnoid hairs. With low density of upright hairs on the underside nerves.

With short, thick and pigmented petiole.

With short, wide teeth with rectilinear-convex sides.

6- Agronomic characteristics of the bobal:

It is a variety very sensitive to powdery mildew and botrytis and not very sensitive to mildew and fungal diseases of wood.

It is sensitive to the cluster moth and not very sensitive to spider mites and leafhoppers.

Its sprouting is late although it is sensitive to cold.


It is a variety of vine very resistant to drought. Due to its resistance and adaptation, it is a variety that can be treated in organic viticulture.


7- Oenological potential of the bobal: 

Bobal plant gives wines rather aroma, color , intense dark cherry with violet tones, aroma intense tones herbaceous, fruity and relatively high acidity.

Suitable for rosé wines that are very aromatic, fruity and pleasant.

The reds, with a high layer , are astringent, lively and full-bodied.

Good results are currently being obtained in the production of fresh and fruity rosés .

Suitable for barrel aging and the base of excellent young red wines.


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Dr. Sofia Seccombe

My name is Dr. Sofia Seccombe, and in this small section, I want to tell you who I am and why I started this project. I don't want to bore you, but I consider that it is an important part of godlywine. It serves as an exercise in transparency so that the person who reads the articles can be sure that the information is reliable.

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