The parts of the name Greco which are very often used in Italy and Grechetto in grape variety names do not necessarily have to indicate a Greek origin, but they may do so. In any case, the often very similar names lead to great confusion. Even in DOC/DOCG designations and grape variety statistics, it is often not clear exactly which variety(ies) is/are actually involved; or in some cases this is also contradictory.
But there is also a white grape variety Greco. Synonyms are Asprinia, Asprinio, Asprinio Bianco, Asprino, Greco del Vesuvio, Greco della Torre, Greco di Napoli, Greco di Tufo, Grieco, Grieco di Castelvenere, Ragusano Bianco and Uva Asprinia. However, some of these are listed in the VIVC catalogue as independent varieties. Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it must not be confused with the varieties Greco Bianco, Guardavalle (Greco Bianco di Cirò), Maceratino, Malvasia Bianca di Piemonte (Greco), Malvasia di Lipari (Greco Bianco di Gerace), Rossetto (Greco Giallo), Trebbiano Giallo (Greco di Velletri) or Welschriesling. According to DNA analyses, Greco is related to Aleatico.
According to one hypothesis, the Greco variety is said to be descended from the ancient Aminea variety, and according to another, it was introduced to southern Italy by the Greeks in the 7th/8th century. The late-ripening vine is susceptible to both types of mildew. It yields white wines with aromas of apricots and herbs. The variety is permitted in many DOC wines, including Greco di Tufo (DOCG), Irpinia, Penisola Sorrentina, Sannio and Vesuvio in Campania, as well as Bianco di Pitigliano and Colline Lucchesi in Tuscany. Under the name Asprinio, it is used for the DOC white wine Aversa in the traditional vine training "Alberata Aversana", in which the vines are partly raised vertically on trees up to 10 metres. There are also other stocks in the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Lazio, Liguria, Molise and Tuscany. Under the name Greco, there is a stand of 20 hectares in Italy, 15 years earlier there were 1,324 hectares, but this may be due to confusion with others, such as Greco Bianco, which has been clarified in the meantime. There are also small populations in Argentina (0.3 ha) and Australia (0.4 ha). In 2016, a total of 21 hectares of vineyard area were designated (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
