The red grape variety originates from Italy. Synonyms are Arlandino, Balestra, Barbesino, Barbesino Nero, Barbesinone, Barbezina, Barbisino, Barbisone d'Espagne, Berbesino, Barbosina de Bologne, Chiavennaschino, Grignolino Fino Nero, Grignolino Grosso Nero, Grignolino Rosato, Grignolino Rosso, Grugnolino, Grugnolino Pisano, Nebbiolo Rosato, Pollasecca, Rossello, Rossetto and Verbesino. Nothing is known about a possible relationship with the white variety Biancone di Portoferraio (synonym Grignolino Bianco). A document dated 7 November 1249 mentions that the church of Sant Evasio in the municipality of Casale Monferrato in Piedmont has a piece of land planted with "good Berbexinis vines". Italian ampelographers agree that this means Grignolino (and not, say, Barbera), because Berbesino is still a synonym today. In any case, a "Grignolerii" is mentioned in 1337, attesting to the great age of the variety.
The medium to late ripening vine has the characteristic of ripening unevenly. It is susceptible to powdery mildew and particularly sensitive to botrytis and grape rot. The name derives from the dialect word "grignòle" (meaning "to crunch"), which indicates an unusually high number of seeds. It usually yields light-coloured, low-alcohol red wines with spicy acidity and aromas of flowers and herbs. Sometimes the wine from it is also called "Italy's answer to Beaujolais" (from the Gamay variety). In Piedmont, the variety is mainly cultivated in the two provinces of Asti and Alessandria, as well as in smaller quantities in Cuneo. There, it is contained in numerous DOC wines, which are, among others, Barbera d'Asti, Barbera del Monferrato, Colli Tortonesi, Gabiano, Grignolino d' Asti, Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese, Malvasia di Casorzo d'Asti and Rubino di Cantavenna. In 2016, a total of 911 hectares of vineyards were designated in Itralia (Kym Anderson statistics). Small areas also exist in California in the Heitz vineyard.
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
