Top Ten Italian Autochthonous Grapes

By: Treve Ring

GOW Guide to VIWF

Top Ten

With hundreds of autochthonous (native) grapes in Italy, it’s impossible to know them all.

We all know pinot grigio and sangiovese, but there is a lot more to discover. Here are 10 indigenous grapes, and wines, we recommend you seek out this week at Vancouver International Wine Festival.

WHITES

Vietti, Piedmont
Roero Arneis 2013
Grape: Arneis

Argiolas, Sardinia
Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna DOC 2014
Grape: Vermentino

Beato Bartolomeo Breganze, Veneto
Sulla Rotta del Bacala Vespaiolo Breganze DOC 2014
Grape: Vespaiolo

Poderi dal Nespoli, Emilia-Romagna
Pagadebit 2014
Grape: Bombino Bianco

Umani Ronchi, Marche
Plenio Verdicchio Riserva DOC 2013
Grape: Verdicchio

REDS

Cleto Chiarli, Emilia-Romanga
Premium Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC NV
Grape: Lambrusco di Sorbara

Feudo Maccari, Sicily
Nero D'avola Terre Siciliane IGT
Grape: Nero D’avola

Tormaresca, Puglia
Masseria Maime Negroamaro
Grape: Negroamaro

Mezzacorona, Trentino-Alto Adige
NOS Teroldego Rotaliano DOC Riserva
Grape: Teroldego

Tedeschi, Veneto
Corasco Appassimento Breve
Grapes: Corvina, Raboso, Refosco

Written By: TR

Treve Ring

Treve Ring is a wine writer and editor, judge and speaker, and perpetual traveller. She is based on Vancouver Island, Canada, though is most often found on a plane or in a vineyard. After completing her Art History degree with Distinction from the University of Victoria and being exposed to the world of wine business at Christie’s in London, England, she switched gears, leaving the realm of art for the world of wine. She is a certified sommelier, WSET diploma holder, Champagne Master, Wine Scholar Guild instructor, and certified Sherry instructor, and has been presenting on wine internationally since co-founding Cru Consultancy, a boutique wine education and consultation company, in 2012. She is the current Chair of the Vancouver Island Sommelier Association.