Theloosetannin

May 24th-Pigato (Vermentino)

Vermentino is a white grape that is grown extensively around the world. I last wrote about it June 23rd, 2021 when I sampled a bottle from Paso Robles, CA. This time, I eyed a bottle of Pigato, one of the many alternative names for Vermentino. Pigato is the name used in Liguria, a wine regionContinue reading “May 24th-Pigato (Vermentino)”

May 17th-Lagrein

Lagrein is a deep red grape indigenous to the northern Italy region of Alto Adige. The grape is used to produce fruity style wines. A common blend using Lagrein is a Rosato, or rosé, which can also be sweet. In the DOCs of Alto Adige and Trentino, Lagrein can be blended with Schiavo or beContinue reading “May 17th-Lagrein”

May 10th-Godello

Godello is a white grape that originates in Galicia, Spain. Galicia is located just north of Portugal, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea. This region is known for its rocky terrain and inclement weather. The most well known wine producing DO in Galicia is Rias Baixas, renowned for their refreshing whiteContinue reading “May 10th-Godello”

May 3rd-Viosinho

Viosinho is a white grape thought to be indigenous to the northern Portugal region of Douro, the same region where the fortified wine Port originates. The grape is believed to have a lengthy history due to the amount of variation found when genetic testing was conducted. This aromatic grape variety can be difficult to workContinue reading “May 3rd-Viosinho”

April 26th-Ribolla Gialla

Ribolla Gialla is a white grape indigenous to the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, near the Slovenian border. It is an ancient variety, with its first written mention dating back to the late 13th century by Pope Boniface VIII. In the present day, the grape is known as Rebula in Slovenia. It is mostContinue reading “April 26th-Ribolla Gialla”

April 19th-Trousseau and Poulsard

Trousseau and Poulsard are both red grape varieties indigenous to the Jura region of eastern France. Poulsard was first mentioned in text in the late 14th century but Trousseau wasn’t mentioned until the early 18th century. Trousseau has also gone by other names in Spain and Portugal such as Merenzao, Verdejo Negro and Bastardo. TheContinue reading “April 19th-Trousseau and Poulsard”

April 12th-Vignoles

Vignoles (veen-YOHL) is a white grape variety that is cold hardy. Similar to Vidal from last week’s post, Vignoles is a hybrid that has been said to have been developed in France, although the story of its origins has been disproven through DNA analysis. It is now rarely grown in France. Its most notable plantingsContinue reading “April 12th-Vignoles”

April 5th-Vidal Blanc

Vidal Blanc is a hybrid that was created by the crossing of Trebbiano Toscano and Rayon d’Or. Vidal is a classic example of hybrid vitis (crossing of American and European species) that is commonly provided as an example in wine texts. It is a white grape that is hardy in colder climates and retains moderateContinue reading “April 5th-Vidal Blanc”

March 29th-Baco Noir

Baco Noir is a hybrid red grape resulting from a cross of an American and a Vitis grape variety. It was created by a French botanist, François Baco, in 1902. Baco Noir was originally planted across France but presently is much more common in the Finger Lakes and Hudson River regions of upstate New YorkContinue reading “March 29th-Baco Noir”

March 22nd-Vermentino Nero

This week, I found a bottle of Vermentino Nero at my local wine shop. Vermentino is a common white grape found world wide. Vermentino Nero is a rare red grape native to the Massa-Carrara region of Tuscany in Central Italy. To date, genetic testing has yet to find familial links with other grape varieties butContinue reading “March 22nd-Vermentino Nero”