Albana

[ahl-BAH-nah] Grown principally in northern Italy's emilia-romagna region and environs, this white wine grape has been cultivated in this area since the thirteenth century. The wines it produces are of extremely variable quality and rarely considered great. albana di romagna wines are designated docg (Italy's highest official classification); however, many experts question this high ranking. At their best, Albana wines are smooth yet crisp with hints of nuttiness. The Albana grape is processed into many styles of wine including amabile, dry, passito, sparkling and sweet. Albana is also known as Biancame, Greco di Ancona, and Greco (although it's totally unrelated to the true greco variety used in greco di tufo).