The red grape variety comes from Italy. Synonyms are Groppella, Groppello Comune, Groppello Fino, Groppellone, Groppello della Val di Non and Groppello Val di Non. Although synonyms or morphological similarities seem to indicate this, it should not be confused with the varieties Groppello dei Berici, Groppello di Mocasina, Groppello di Revò, Pignola Valtellinese (Groppello di Breganze) or Raboso Piave. The name Groppello or similar is used in Northern Italy to designate several independent grape varieties. The name is derived from "Gropo", which in dialect means "knot" after the appearance of the grapes. Groppello Gentile is the most widespread Groppello variety. It was already mentioned in 1596 by Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) in his famous seven-volume work "De naturali vinorum historia".
The medium ripening vine is resistant to frost, but susceptible to powdery mildew and infestation by vine thrips. It produces ruby red wines with a low tannin content and a forest berry aroma. The variety is grown in the north of Italy, mainly in Lombardy (provinces of Bergamo and Brescia), where it is permitted in the two DOC wines Garda and Riviera del Garda Bresciano. There are other smaller stocks in the two regions of Veneto and Tuscany. In 2016, a total of 78 hectares of vineyard area were designated in Italy with a strongly decreasing tendency (statistics Kym Anderson).
Source: Kym Anderson: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Pictures: M.I.P.A.A.F - National Vine Certification Service
