Life Style / Wine Grapes / Charbono: Is a californian alias name for the french Douce Noire variety. Many other synonym names (noted in the Geilweilerhof database above) include Corbeau Noire. The subject name is of the red-wine creating grape grown on small acreages in California. There, this vinename is thought to be an early Italian immigrant corruption of Charbonneau, yet another french synonym for the Douce Noire grape variety from the Savoie region of France and should not to be confused with the unrelated italian Nera Dolce (ie. 'Douce Noire' in french, 'Sweet Black' in english), a synonym name for the Dolcetto grapevine of Piedmont, Italy. The California vine bears small berries that are used to make a very dark red wine that, when subjected to extended skin contact during fermentation, is flavorful and quite tannic, with an ability to improve with ageing over 5 to 10 years. It is claimed the best wines can be cellared out to 20 years, developing great bouquet and flavor.
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