There is a particular kind of red grape called Piedirosso considered a small metter or, more precisely, it was useless by the native varieties of Campania, until few years ago.
The wine made by this grape was almost exclusively used as a blending wine because it isn’t much tannic, so it was more difficult realize softer and less aggressive full-bodied and structured wines such as Aglianico.
If Piedirosso grows without careful it will not be a very productive grape and it will request a lot of attention to the vineyard process and to the winery. However, Piedirosso is very resistant to grape’s diseases such as powdery mildew (oidium). According with its strong and ancient variety, we can find it in Campi Flegrei area and also on the Vesuvius volcano. This is possible thanks to sandy and loose soils of these area. We can also find a variety before phylloxera, grown ungrafted.
Piedirosso is usually harvested during the first 15 days of October.
Until few years ago, some winegrowers are taking care to Piedirosso using an easier way to cultivate it. Piedirosso become a modern, fresh, thin wine with a good drinkability. The color is a little red and the smell is characterized by geranium, red flowers and red fruit aromas. It isn’t too much alcoholic. The result is a fresh wine with silky and kind tannins, just perfect to be matched with sea dishes.
Piedirosso became a good alternative to the traditional red “Aglianico-based” made in Campania. It ‘a red lighter wine who is perfect to drink with light meal. Someone compared it even to Pinot Noir, but it’s a strange claim because the French wines are usually more elegant (except some certain cases) than Piedirosso wines.
Piedirosso is cultivated also in Sannio and Irpinia area, often straight vinified.
The curious grape name is due to stalk of the berry is shaped like a pigeon’s leg: called as “Per ‘e palummo” in local language.
Now I can say: “Piedirosso, the ugly duckling can become swan”
I tasted some excellent wines from Piedirosso straight from wineries La Sibilla, Astroni, Agnanum, Contrada Salandra.
I learned these concrete and fundamental news about Piedirosso during the event “Campania Stories” annually dedicated to the excellence of Campania wines.
(photocredits: www.montegrillo.it)
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