Boal da Madeira
Botanical description of the Boal da Madeira grape, grown mainly in Funchal and Câmara de Lobos for table grapes and a prized dry wine.
Leaves medium-sized, cottony on the underside, sub-glabrous or pubescent on the upper side, with the 3 upper lobes clearly visible, sometimes acuminate, the lower ones usually poorly defined; teeth unequal, generally sub-obtuse, less often acute; petiolar sinus closed or slightly open; upper lateral sinuses often barely visible because the lobes overlap; bunches large, strongly winged, dense; berries almost always elliptical, 15–22 millimetres, firm, greenish-yellow, turning golden when ripe, very sweet. Stock medium-sized; canes light brown, with short internodes. It is grown mainly in the municipalities of Funchal and Câmara de Lobos (‘seals’ den’). It produces good table grapes and a highly prized dry wine.
In this article
Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Câmara de Lobos
Main area of Boal cultivation.
Parish west of Funchal. The Elucidário traces its name to Zarco's discovery voyage and describes its churches, chapels and collegiate chapter, early settlers, fishing community and renowned vineyards. It also records the parish's localities, boundaries, levadas and population.
- Funchal
Main area of Boal cultivation.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.