Colombard

This grape variety certainly originates from the Charentes. In France, it is mainly grown for Armagnac production in the Gers. In the Charentes, it has been replaced by Ugni-Blanc, which produces higher quality grapes and is easier to prune, so it is much less widely grown than it used to be. It used to be grown as a supplementary grape variety in Bordeaux but has now almost completely disappeared from this area. Colombard is still used to produce ordinary table wines or wine for distillation in a number of countries around the world: United States, South Africa, and Australia. Colombard wines used to be appreciated by the Dutch, who sailed up the Charente River and shipped them back to the Netherlands. This grape variety is vigorous and very prolific: up to 30 tonnes per hectare in irrigated vineyards. Colombard is susceptible to powdery mildew, gray rot, and stem blight. It has particularly hard wood. The bunches are middle-sized, with small grapes. Colombard wines are high in alcohol and pleasant, but frequently acidic and green if yields are too high. Colombard also produces decent quality brandy.

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Colombard
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Photo credit Entav	Photo credit Entav
This grape variety certainly originates from the Charentes. In France, it is mainly grown for Armagnac production in the Gers. In the Charentes, it has been replaced by Ugni-Blanc, which produces higher quality grapes and is easier to prune, so it is much less widely grown than it used to be. It used to be grown as a supplementary grape variety in Bordeaux but has now almost completely disappeared from this area. Colombard is still used to produce ordinary table wines or wine for distillation in a number of countries around the world: United States, South Africa, and Australia. Colombard wines used to be appreciated by the Dutch, who sailed up the Charente River and shipped them back to the Netherlands. This grape variety is vigorous and very prolific: up to 30 tonnes per hectare in irrigated vineyards. Colombard is susceptible to powdery mildew, gray rot, and stem blight. It has particularly hard wood. The bunches are middle-sized, with small grapes. Colombard wines are high in alcohol and pleasant, but frequently acidic and green if yields are too high. Colombard also produces decent quality brandy.