Doña Blanca
Encyclopedia
Doña Blanca is a white Spanish and Portuguese wine
grape variety that is grown primarily in the northwest Galicia region of Spain
and throughout Portugal
from the Douro northward. The variety is a permitted grape in the Spanish Denominación de Origen
s (DOs) of Valdeorras
and Monterrei
in Galicia and Bierzo
in nearby Castile and León
.In Spain, the variety is known as Doña Blanca (except in Valdeorras where it is primarily known as Valenciana, while in Portugal it goes mainly by the name Doña Branco. The grapes have thick skins, which does well in the wet maritime climate, but it can also impart some astringency and slight bitterness even with the briefest of skin contact during production due to the high proportion of polyphenols in the skin.
Portuguese wine
Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the...
grape variety that is grown primarily in the northwest Galicia region of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and throughout Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from the Douro northward. The variety is a permitted grape in the Spanish Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. In wines it parallels the hierarchical system of France and Italy although Rioja and Sherry preceded the full system...
s (DOs) of Valdeorras
Valdeorras (DO)
Valdeorras is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located on the banks of the river Sil in the south of the province of Ourense, .-History:...
and Monterrei
Monterrei (DO)
Monterrei is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the souththeast corner of the Ourense province in...
in Galicia and Bierzo
Bierzo (DO)
Bierzo is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the northwest of the province of León and covers about 3,000 km²...
in nearby Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
.In Spain, the variety is known as Doña Blanca (except in Valdeorras where it is primarily known as Valenciana, while in Portugal it goes mainly by the name Doña Branco. The grapes have thick skins, which does well in the wet maritime climate, but it can also impart some astringency and slight bitterness even with the briefest of skin contact during production due to the high proportion of polyphenols in the skin.