The red grape variety originates from Italy. Synonyms are Corba, Corbina, Corgnola, Corniola, Corva, Corvina, Corvina Comune, Corvina Doppia, Corvina Gentile, Corvina Nera, Corvina Nostrana, Corvina Pelosa, Corvina Reale, Corvina Rizza, Corvine Nostrana, Crevatizza, Croetto, Crovina, Cruina and Cruina Zervei de Gatto. It was first mentioned under the name "Corvina" in 1627, and under the now common name "Corvina Veronese" in 1755. It must not be confused with the varieties Corbina, Corva or Corvinone, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. According to DNA analyses, there is a parent-offspring relationship with the two varieties Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Rondinella, and somewhat more distant relationships with the varieties Dindarella, Garganega, Marzemino and Oseleta.
The medium to late ripening vine is resistant to frost, but susceptible to downy mildew and sensitive to drought. It produces colourful, fruity and rather low-tannin red wines with a characteristic sour cherry aroma. It is mainly cultivated in the northeast of Italy in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. There it is permitted in the DOC/DOCG wines Bardolino, Garda and Valpolicella. The grapes are particularly suitable for rosination in the Recioto process, this is used in Amarone. In Italy, the variety occupies 6,222 hectares. There are also small stocks in Argentina (17 ha), Australia (0.5 ha), Brazil (0.5 ha), Chile (1 ha), Canada (0.5 ha) and Switzerland (0.1 ha). In 2016, a total of 6,240 hectares of vineyards were designated. It is thus ranked 100th in the world grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
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