The red grape variety originates from France. Synonyms are Antiboulen, Antiboulene, Antibouren, Antibourin, Rosseis, Tiboulen, Tiboulin, Tibouren Noir (France); Rossese, Rossese di Dolceacqua, Rossese di Ventimiglia, Rossese Nericcio, Rossese Nero, Rossese Rosso, Rossese Ventimiglia (Italy). It must not be confused with the Italian variety Rossese di Campochiesa, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. The five white Rossese varieties are not colour mutations. The early to medium ripening vine tends to trickle and is susceptible to early frost and downy mildew. It produces aromatic red wines with notes of garigue (shrub heather) and sour cherries. These are mainly used for the production of rosé wines, but also varietally for red wines.
According to one hypothesis, the variety is said to have originated in Greece or the Middle East, but there is no evidence for this. According to local sources, it was brought to the area around Saint-Tropez in the Var department by a naval captain named Antiboul at the end of the 17th century. There it is permitted in the appellations Côtes de Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence and Palette. In France, it is grown on 432 hectares. In Italy, it is cultivated as Rossese di Dolceacqua in Liguria, mainly in the province of Imperia. There it is permitted in the DOC areas Riviera Ligure di Ponente and Rossese di Dolceacqua. It is unclear which variety(ies) it is (it could be Rossese di Dolceacqua and/or Rossese di Campochiesa). However, in 2016 only the French stock was reported (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
