🍇 Bical

Bical is a white wine grape variety (Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa) from Portugal. According to the international grape catalogue VIVC, its pedigree confirmed by markers is Malvasia Fina (Arinto do Dão) crossed with an unknown parent. VIVC lists 12 synonyms, among them Borrado das Moscas, Barrado das Moscas, Pintado das Moscas, Bical de Bairrada, Fernão Pires Galego and Torrontes. The variety has hermaphrodite flowers and complete seed formation, SSR marker data exist, and it is registered in the European Catalogue.

The official Wines of Portugal site says that Bical is found mainly in the Beiras, in the Bairrada and Dão DOCs, and that in Dão it is sometimes called Borrado das Moscas. In Bairrada it is often blended with Arinto in sparkling wines. The same page describes it as an early-ripening variety that is highly resistant to rot but particularly susceptible to powdery mildew.

VIVC holds Bical in seven collections: DEU456, ESP074, ESP080, FRA139, PRT051, PRT078 and PRT079. VIVC area statistics for Portugal give 1,336 ha in 1989, 911.9 ha in 1999, 1,230 ha in 2007 and 1,465 ha in 2010.

If a grape is named on the label of an EU wine, it makes up at least 85% of that wine.