The red grape variety originates from Italy. Synonyms are Balsamina, Bonarda, Bonarda a Grandes Grappes, Bonarda dell'Astigiano, Bonarda dell Monferrato, Bonarda di Asti, Bonarda di Chieri, Bonarda di Piemonte, Bonarda di Pyemont, Bonarda du Piemont, Bonarda Nera, Bonarda Nero, Driola, Kanaiolo Krasnyi and Negrin. The name Bonarda (see there) is used for many independent varieties in northern Italy, which makes exact identification difficult.

The Italian ampelographer Conte Giuseppe di Rovasenda (1824-1913) mentioned it in 1873 as a Piedmontese variety under the names Bonarda Piemontese and dell'Astigiano e Monferrato.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien