Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and Valpolicella, but at 10 percent or less, Ros-
signola hardly sticks out. Furthermore, there
are very few vines left; it's easiest to fi nd in
plots situated at the highest altitudes. Its
grape bunch is medium-large, pyramidal,
compact, and has a small wing. The berry is
medium-sized, oval, thin skinned, and pink-
ish-violet. There are three clones: ISV-CV 3,
ISV-CV 7, and ISV-CV 9. Late ripening, it is
harvested in mid-October, and is very sensi-
tive to most diseases. From my tastings of
microvinifi cations, I can say that the wine is
light red and has very delicate redcurrant aro-
mas and fl avors, with lasting saline fi nish. I
actually like the wine.
it today—and Verrayes. Lorenzo Gatta (1838)
mentions a subvariant called Roussin Picciout
or Piciout Roussin. Most researchers have
agreed that Roussin was always scarce and
was never of the greatest winemaking quality
(Bich 1896). The bunch is medium-sized,
pyramidal, long, and often winged, with small,
round, pink-purple berries. It ripens in Octo-
ber and needs low-lying southern exposures to
ripen fully.
Ruzzese
where it's found:
Liguria.
national regis-
try code number:
432.
color:
white.
Also called Razzese, Ruzzese is the dialect
name of the Rossese Bianco di Arcola variety,
but offi cially adopted by the National Registry
to avoid confusion with other Rossese Bianco
varieties. Limited to the area of La Spezia, it has
mid-sized, cylindrical and winged bunches,
with medium-small, oval berries with thin
skins. Early fl owering and ripening, wines
have good alcohol levels and lovely fl oral and
citrus aromas and fl avors, and are less acid than
those made with Rossese Bianco.
Rossola Nera
where it's found:
Lombardy.
national
registry code number:
215.
color:
red.
Also called Rossera, Rossola, or Rossolo,
Rossola Nera has been grown in the cold Valtel-
lina region of Lombardy at least since the seven-
teenth century. Today it continues to be found
in this pret t y alpine region of Lombardy, though
scattered vines of Rossola Nera are found every-
where in the region. The bunch is medium-
small, cylindrical or pyramidal, short, and com-
pact, with small wings. The berry is medium-
sized and round, but is often compressed due to
how compact the bunch is. The skin is reddish-
violet and darker if exposed to intense sunlight.
It is usually harvested in mid- to late October.
Clone 29, developed in 2003, is the only one
available and is characterized by less compact
bunches.
Sagrestana
where it's found:
FVG.
national registry
code number:
not registered.
color:
white.
Found in 2001 in old vineyards near Cla-
mara di Buttrio, Sagrestana is, according to
Carlo Petrussi, a natural crossing between Ver-
duzzo and Picolit. It has a medium-sized circu-
lar, leaf with fi ve lobes, and a medium-sized,
conical, compact bunch with up to fi ve wings. It
is a very late-ripening variety. The wines also
appear to have very good structure and aging
potential, with complex aromas of honey and
ripe citrus fruits.
Roussin
where it's found:
Valle d'Aosta.
national
registry code number:
355.
color:
red.
Also called Roussin Masciou, Gros Roussin,
Rouzola, and Roussé, Roussin is distinct
from Roussin de Morgex and was never one of
the more common varieties of the region;
it was found mainly in the area between
Arnad—where you are still most likely to fi nd
San Colombano
See
COLOMBANA
NERA
entry.
