The white wine variety Robola is widespread in the Ionian Islands in the west of the Peloponnese in Greece. The name used to cause a lot of misunderstanding because it was used not only for this grape variety, but also for a whole range of wine styles, from white wines to rosé wines to red wines. It is still unclear whether the grape variety actually comes from the Ionian Islands or from the Peloponnese, but in any case it only seems to occur in Greece and therefore probably comes from there. At times it was assumed that it was closely related to the Ribolla grape variety grown in Friuli, but DNA analyzes have refuted this. The two red-berry varieties Rombola Kokkino and Mavro Rombola, on the other hand, are color mutations of Robola. The Robola is very susceptible to powdery mildew, putrefactive diseases such as black rot and sour rot as well as viral diseases. It achieves its best results on poor soils on slopes with good drainage. The vines are often trained as so-called “bush vines” and produce high yields. The Robola presents itself as ripe with small, open grapes with again quite small berries. On the islands of Lefkada, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Corfu, Robola is a very important grape variety with an excellent reputation. Particularly good results occur in vineyards at over 300 meters above sea level. The wines are light and citrus-fresh, but because of its tendency to rapid oxidation, Robola is not easy to grow and develop. Careful work in the cellar is urgently required here. In addition to the Ionian Islands, there are vineyards in the Peloponnese, where the variety has spread. No other occurrences are known.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Asporombola, Asprorobola, Asprorompola, Robbola, Rombola, Rompola, Rompola kerine
