A name often used in Italy for grape varieties. The first mention of a Barbarossa from Tuscany was in 1600 by the agronomist Giovanni Soderini (1526-1596). The name could refer to the colour and shape of the grapes. Another version points to the German Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick I (1122-1190), who was nicknamed "Barbarossa" after his beard. He stayed at a castle in Emilia-Romagna in 1177. Here, in Bertinoro (Forlì-Cesena), in an ancient vineyard at the foot of the castle, a vine was discovered and selected by winemaker Mario Pezzi (Fattoria Paradiso) in 1955. This vine is said to be shaped like the outline of the castle or the emperor's beard.
A variety called Barbarossa di Finalborgo is grown in Liguria in the provinces of Genoa and Savona. According to the French ampelographer Pierre Galet (1921-2019), it is said to be identical to a Barbarossa grown in Corsica. It is said to originate from Tuscany. There are two Barbarossa varieties in the regions of Puglia and Campania. According to DNA analyses, these are different, as well as not (as previously suspected) identical to the French Barbaroux. The Barbarossa grown in Corsica is registered in the appellations of Ajaccio and Vin de Corse (ex Wine Grapes). The following Barbarossa varieties appear in the VIVC catalogue, with multiple synonyms adding to the confusion (these include Barbarossa, Barbarossa Verduna, Barbarossa di Finale and Barbarossa di/del Piemonte):
- Barbarossa = Barbaroux, Fortana and Uva Sogra.
- Barbarossa 5
- Barbarossa Barletta
- Barbarossa di Finalborgo (Barbarossa, B. a Foglie Cotonose, B. di Finale, B. di Liguria, B. del Piemonte, B. Verdona)
- Barbarossa di Finale
- Barbarossa di Piemonte (B. a Foglie Incise, B. di Conegliano, B. di Favora, B. Ovale)
- Barbarossa di Toscane (Barbarossa, B. di Lucca, B. di Toscana)
- Barbarossa Précoce = Chasselas Rosé
- Barbarossa Rosa
- Barbarossa Toscana = Verdicchio
- Barbarossa Verduna = Grec Rouge
- Uva Barbarossa = Barbaroux
The relationships of all these grape varieties to each other are largely unknown. In 2016, no stocks were reported under the name Barbarossa (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Friedrich Barbarossa: Christian Siedentopf; file: James Steakley - The Spiegel No. 2006/32 (20, Dominiu públicu, Link
Vine varieties: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
