Ciliegiolo

Ciliegiolo
Species:	Vitis vinifera
Origin:	Italy (possibly Spain?)
Notable regions:	Tuscany, Umbria

Ciliegiolo is a variety of red wine grape from Italy, named after the Italian for 'cherry'. It is a minor component of traditional blends such as Chianti, but interest has revived in recent years. In Umbria it is made into a light quaffing wine,in Tuscany it is made into a bigger, more structured style. Recently it was found to be one of the parents of Sangiovese.

History

Tradition says that Ciliegiolo came to Italy from Spain, but the Florentine writer Soderini described a "Ciregiuolo dolce" in the 17th century that sounds very similar to Ciliegiolo.

Distribution and Wines

Italy

There's around 5000ha of Ciliegiolo in Italy, a figure that has been in steady decline. It is used in the wines from Torgiano Rosso Riserva, Parrina, Colli Lucchesi, Chianti, Val di Cornia, Golfo del Tigullio and Colli di Luni.

Vine and Viticulture

Ciliegiolo is not an easy grape to grow, suffering particularly from berry drop. The berries average 19.2mm long, 19.0mm wide, and weigh 3.68g.^[1]

Synonyms

Aleatico di Spagna, Ciliegino, Ciliegiolo di Spagna, Ciliegiuolo and Ciriegiuolo Dolce.^[1]

Notes and references

^ ^a ^b Maul, E.; Eibach, R. (1999-06-00). Vitis International Variety Catalogue. Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity (IBV) of the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE), Deichmanns Aue 29, 53179 Bonn, Germany. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.

Wines
Wine styles:	Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice
Notable varietals:	White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier	Red Aglianico • Alicante Bouschet • Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Dolcetto • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Mourvèdre • Nebbiolo • Barbera • Petite Sirah/Durif • Petit Verdot • Pinot Noir • Pinotage • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel
Notable regionals:	Amarone • Asti • Barbaresco • Barbera d'Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Mosel • Muscadet • Port • Retsina • Rheingau • Rheinhessen • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray
See also:	Glossary • Grape varieties • Wine-producing regions • Wine-producing countries • Kosher wine • Natural wine • Organic wine • Varietal • Vegan wine • Wine accessory • Wine grapes • Winemaking

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