The Bual
Grape
A white grape variety used in the production of Madeira, a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name. Bual (or Boal) produces medium-sweet wines, characterized by their high acidity and complex flavors of caramel, nuts, and dried fruits, with exceptional aging potential.
Bual
Grape History
Bual is a white grape variety commonly used to make fortified wines, particularly in the production of Madeira wine. The history of the Bual grape can be traced back to the island of Madeira, a Portuguese territory located in the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira wines have a long and storied history, dating back to the Age of Exploration when the island served as a crucial stopover for ships traveling between Europe and the New World.
Bual grapes are known for their high sugar content and acidity, making them ideal for producing complex and long-lived fortified wines. The name "Bual" is thought to be a corruption of the Portuguese word "Boal," which means "good" or "noble," perhaps reflecting the high quality and esteemed reputation of wines made from this grape.
Bual grapes are typically grown in warm, sunny climates with well-drained soils. In addition to Madeira, the Bual grape is also cultivated in other regions of Portugal, as well as in countries such as Australia and South Africa. The grape has also been planted in small quantities in California and other wine regions around the world.
As mentioned, Bual grapes are primarily used in the production of fortified wines, particularly in the making of Madeira wine. Madeira is a unique style of fortified wine that undergoes a process of oxidation and heat treatment, giving it a distinctive nutty, caramelized flavor profile. Bual Madeira wines are known for their rich, sweet characteristics, with notes of dried fruits, toasted nuts, and caramel.
The future of the Bual grape variety is promising, as demand for high-quality fortified wines continues to grow among wine enthusiasts around the world. While Madeira wine has traditionally been considered a niche product, its complex flavors and ability to age gracefully have attracted a new generation of consumers looking for unique and distinctive wine experiences.
In conclusion, the Bual grape is an important and versatile variety that plays a key role in the production of some of the world's most revered fortified wines. With its rich history, unique characteristics, and increasing popularity, the Bual grape variety is poised to continue delighting wine lovers for many years to come.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel