Rare and nearly lost, rediscovered by a priest, delightful, indulgent and full of character!
I’m an extremely rare grape variety found only in Piedmont. After being abandoned during the World Wars, I was rediscovered in the 1960s by a parish priest from Castagnole Monferrato. With the help of passionate locals like a schoolteacher, they fought to bring me back to life, even if it meant getting into a bit of trouble with the Church! But if they knew now that the grandfather of Pope Francis used to enjoy me, who knows what they’d think!
Let me introduce myself: I am a very rare vine! My grapes are blue-black and purple.
Where do I thrive? You can only find me in Piedmont.
Here I give my best: Asti region, especially in Castagnole Monferrato and its neighboring villages: Grana, Montemagno, Portacomaro, Refrancore, Scurzolengo, and Viarigi.
Where do I shine? You can find me in 1 DOCG wine.
My signature wine
Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG.
Did you know? Portacomaro, one of my hometowns, is where the grandfather of Pope Francis (Papa Bergoglio) was born!