The Ciliegiolo vine – a vine that I have recently discovered and I like a lot

Hello,

Today I want to tell you a little about a recently discovered vineyard that I like a lot; the Ciliegiolo.

A bit of history

The origins of this vine are pretty uncertain; however, it seems that it arrived in Tuscany from Spain in 1870, thanks to some pilgrims who made the journey to Santiago. It seems they were the ones who brought this grape variety back to Italy. For this reason, this vine is also called Ciliegiolo di Spagna.

Characteristics and cultivation

Initially, it was cultivated in central Italy, particularly in Tuscany and Umbria; it is often used in blends with the Sangiovese grapes. Then, over time it also spread to other Italian regions; I will shortly tell you about my favourite one, which is produced in Sicily 🙂

The shape of the leaf is certainly very characteristic; it is bottle green in colour and quite large in a pentagonal shape, and the edges all seem serrated.
On the other hand, the bunch is quite large, and the grapes are pretty compact. The cluster has a cylindrical shape and, at the same time, looks like a pyramid

It tends to ripen in the second half of August but depends on the region where it is grown and the climate.

Why is it called Ciliegiolo?

The name of this vine is undoubtedly particular and curious; it is so called because if drunk young, the wine releases delightful hints of cherry.

My favourite

As I told you earlier, my favourite Ciliegiolo is the one from Soffio Sulle Isole. In this case, it is 100% Ciliegiolo grapes grown on the island of Vulcano, one of the seven islands that form the Aeolian archipelago in Sicily. Although the island is of volcanic origin, the vineyards are in a very fertile area in the “Piano” area, a real plain at 420 meters above sea level.

It is intense and full-bodied, has pleasant fruity scents, is easy to drink, and is very well balanced. Since it is summer and the barbecue is a must, I highly recommend you try it! The combination is almost perfect!

Let me know if you like it.

Speak to you soon

ciao

Monica