The red grape variety originates from Italy. There are 65 synonyms for at least some slightly different varieties. The most important are Aglianica, Aglianica de Pontelatone, Aglianichella, Aglianichello, Aglianico Amaro, Aglianico Crni, Aglianico del Vulture, Aglianico di Benevente, Aglianico di Castellaneta, Aglianico di Lapio, Aglianico di Puglia, Aglianico di Taurasi, Aglianico Femminile, Aglianico Liscio, Aglianico Mascolino, Aglianico Nero, Aglianico Pannarano, Aglianico Trignarulo, Aglianico Tringarulo, Aglianico Zerpoluso, Aglianico Zerpuloso, Aglianicuccia, Agliano, Agliatica, Agliatico, Agnanico, Agnanico di Castellaneta, Cascavoglia, Cassano, Cerasole, Ellenica, Ellanico, Ellenico, Fiano Rosso, Fresella, Gagliano, Ghiandara, Ghianna, Ghiannara, Glianica, Gnanica, Gnanico, Granica, Hellanica, Olivella, Olivella di San Cosmo, Olivella di S. Cosmo, Ruopolo, Spriema, Tringarulo, Uva Aglianica, Uva Castellaneta, Uva dei Cani, Uva di Castellaneta, Uva Nera and Zuccherina.
It must not be confused with the varieties Aglianico di Galluccio, Aglianicone, Aleatico (Aglianico Dolce), Ciliegiolo, Pignolo or Tronto (Aglianico di Napoli), despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2005, Aglianico could be a parent of Aglianicone. According to one hypothesis, it was already cultivated in the 6th or 7th century BC by the Phoenicians. According to one hypothesis, it was brought to Naples from Greece by the Phoenicians in the 6th or 7th century BC, which is also suggested by the name. However, linguists doubt that the name "Aglianico" can be derived from "ellenico" (Hellenic). Moreover, DNA analyses carried out in 2001 could not prove any relationship with Greek grape varieties. Greek ancestry is therefore unlikely. That an ancestor of Aglianico could be a variety described by Pliny the Elder (23-79) for the famous ancient wine Falerner can no longer be verified.
The first mention of a variety called Aglianico was in a document from 1520, in which the Count of Conversano Giulio Antonio Acquaviva-d'Aragona (1428-1481) is named as the owner of vineyards planted with Aglianiche vines (plural of Aglianico). The very late-ripening vine is resistant to powdery mildew but susceptible to botrytis. It thrives particularly well on volcanic soil. The variety produces dark-coloured, tannin- and acid-rich red wines with aromas of plums, cassis and chocolate, as well as ageing potential with appropriate maturation.
In southern Italy, it is mainly cultivated in the regions of Basilicata (provinces of Matera and Potenza) and Campania (provinces of Avellino and Benevento), as well as Puglia, Calabria, Molise and Sardinia. The variety dominates in numerous DOC/DOCG wines, these are Aglianico del Taburno, Aglianico del Vulture, Biferno, Campi Flegrei, Castel del Monte, Cilento, Costa d'Amalfi (see picture above), Del Molise, Falerno del Massico, Galluccio, Irpinia, Penisola Sorrentina, Sannio, Scavigna, Taurasi, Terre di Cosenza and Vesuvio. The Italian cultivation area totals 9,627 hectares. There are also small populations in Argentina (51 ha), Australia (25 ha) and in the USA in the state of California (31 ha). The variety occupied a total of 9,734 hectares of vineyard in 2016. It is thus ranked 73rd in the global grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: M.I.P.A.F - National Vine Certification Service
