Palomino (Vine Variety)

Origin and Distribution

The Palomino is an old white wine variety that originated in the region of Andalusia, Spain. It is believed to have been named after one of King Alfonso X of Castile and León's knights. The grape is also found in other parts of the world, including Brazil, where it is endemic.

Cultivation

Palomino is mainly grown in the Sherry Triangle (Jerez de la Frontera – Puerto de Santa Maria – Sanlúcar de Barrameda), where it occupies 90% of the vineyard. In Spain, it still has a significant presence in D.O. Condado de Huelva and the Canary Islands, where it is known as Listán Blanco. Other notable cultivation areas include South Africa, France, Argentina, Australia, USA (California), New Zealand, and Cyprus.

Characteristics

The Palomino grape is a late-ripening variety that thrives best in summer-dry, sun-exposed but only moderately hot growing areas. It requires adequate winter moisture and good ventilation to grow well. The vines are characterized by strong growth, but the grape is unresistant to low temperatures and medium resistant to fungal diseases.

Physical Characteristics

The Palomino grapes are large, conical, winged, and medium dense. They have a green-yellow color with a pink hue at full maturity. The skin is thick and covered with light wax, giving it a meaty consistency.

Wine Production

Palomino is the classic sherry grape, and many sherries, mainly Finos and Manzanillas, consist exclusively of Palomino Fino. In Spain, Palomino is used to produce world-famous wines with bright yellow-green color and rich aroma. The variety is also blended with other grapes, such as Pedro Jimenez and Moscatel, in the production of Heres wine.

Plantations

Worldwide, about 60,000 hectares are planted with Palomino vines, with half of them located in Spain.