Grignolino, the DNA of a great wine.
According to the research of Anna Schneider, perhaps the greatest Italian ampelographic expert, on relationship hypotheses between Grignolino and Nebbiolo:
- Grignolino is a vine with a long history, it appears for the first time in a document dated 1249
- Grignolino is almost certainly a second degree relative of Nebbiolo (grandfather-grandson), precisely it is the son of a perhaps extinct genotype, which is in turn the son of Nebbiolo. The anthocyanin profile of the two grapes is very similar, even to that of Freisa (daughter of Nebbiolo and therefore “aunt” of Grignolino).
- Grignolino is certainly an indigenous Piedmont’s grapevine, originally developed from Casalese and Monferrato areas.
Having said this, Grignolino, although related to Nebbiolo, maintains the organoleptic and gustatory characteristics that clearly distinguish it, combining the fragrant and lively part of its fruit (strawberry and raspberry) with a thin body, easy-drinking and well-integrated and never intrusive tannins.
As per its name, most probably it comes from “grignolo”, the grape seed, present in the berries in 3-4 numbers, higher than that of other varieties, then “Grignolino”.
Source: Italian_wines