Bourboulenc is a white wine grape variety primarily grown in southern France. The variety is found in the regions Southern Rhône, Provence and Languedoc. Bourboulenc is a late-ripening grape variety with tight bunches of large grapes, that can be prone to rot in some years. Bourboulenc wine has a good acidity level, body, penetrating character, citrus aromas and a hint of smoke. However, if the grapes are picked too soon, the wines have a thin, neutral taste. In 2000, there were of Bourboulenc in France.

Wines

Varietal Bourboulenc is rare, but is allowed into a number of white wine appellations of southern France. Only in white La Clape, a geographical designation that may be used in conjunction with the '' Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC)

Coteaux du Languedoc Languedoc-Roussillon wine, including the ''vin de pays'' labeled ''Vin de Pays d'Oc'', is produced in southern France. While "Languedoc" can refer to a specific historic region of France and Northern Catalonia, usage since the 20th century (esp ...

, is Bourboulenc the dominant grape variety. White La Clape must contain a minimum of 40% Bourboulenc.

Appellations where Bourboulenc may be included

French AOCs that may include the variety are: * Bandol AOC * Cassis AOC * Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, where Bourboulenc was grown on 1% of the vineyard surface in 2004. *

Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC Provence (Provençal) wine comes from the French wine-producing region of Provence in southeast France. The Romans called the area ''provincia nostra'' ("our province"), giving the region its name. Just south of the Alps, it was the first Roman pr ...

* Côtes du Luberon AOC * Côtes du Rhône AOC * Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC * Côtes du Ventoux AOC *

Lirac AOC Lirac is a wine-growing ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) in the department of Gard situated in the low hills along the right bank of the Rhône river in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It is named after the village of Li ...

* Tavel AOC *

Vacqueyras AOC Vacqueyras is a French wine ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) in the southern Rhône wine region of France, along the banks of the River Ouvèze. It is primarily a red wine region with some white and rosé wines being produced. Being a ...

History

Bourboulenc has been grown in southern France for centuries, and has been proposed to be of Greek origin. The French vineyard area grown with Bourboulenc dropped by about half in the 1970s and doubled again in the 1980s, and Bourboulenc has primarily increased in popularity in Languedoc.

Synonyms

Synonyms for Bourboulenc include Berlou blanc, Blanquette, Blanquette du Frontonnais, Blanquette du Gard, Blanquette menue, Bourbojlanc, Bourboulenco, Bourbouleng, Bourboulenque, Bourbounenco, Burbulen, Clairette dorée à Paulhan, Clairette à grains ronds, Clairette blanche, Clairette dorée, Clairette grosse, Clairette rousse, Clairette rousse du Var, Doucillon, Frappad, Grosse Clairette, Malvoisie, Malvoisie à la Clape, Mourterille, Ondenc, Picardan, Roussaou, Roussette, Roussette du Vaucluse.Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Bourboulenc
, accessed on July 8, 2008 Note that these synonyms overlap with the proper names and synonyms of several other varieties of Rhône and nearby regions, such as Altesse, Clairette Blanche and

Picardan Picardan or Picardan blanc is a white wine grape which is one of 13 permitted blending grapes within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC in Rhône wine region in France, although very little planted. The Vitis International Variety Catalogue previousl ...

References

{{Reflist White wine grape varieties Grape varieties of France