Aglianico

Species: 

• Vitis vinifera

Type:

• Noir

Origin:

• Aglianico is a southern Italian grape first thought to have originated in Greece but DNA testing has shown no Greek origin.  The earliest known cultivation was near the town of Avellino in the Campania region of Southern Italy.

Parents:

• Unknown.  May be ancestral to Syrah, Teroldego and Negroamaro.

Principal Regions:

• Southern Italy, particularly the Aglianico del Vulture DOC in Campania, and Taurasi DOC in Basilicata.  Also widely grown in Australia and the US.

Viticulture:

• Aglianico is a thick skinned variety with dark berries.  In the vineyard it tends to bud early and ripen late.  It grows best in dry, well-aerated soils and seems to prefer soils of volcanic origin.  It is a heat-tolerant variety making it well adapted to Texas climate.

Sensory Characteristics:

• Aglianico is a full bodied wine with high tannins and acidity.  It can display notes of black cherry, plum, cranberry, white pepper, coffee, chocolate, leather, and tobacco. 

Food Pairings:

• Aglianico pairs well with Texas BBQ or other foods high in flavor (e.g. game meats, savory herbed or spiced dishes, strong cheeses).
  

History:

• Once thought to have originated in Greece, modern DNA testing has found no link to any Greek variety.  Belief in a Greek origin may come from a corruption of an earlier Italian name, Ellenico, which translates to “Hellenic”.

Notes:

• Pronounced “alley-YAWN-nico”.
• Referred to in Italy as the “Nebbiolo of the South.”
• There were 32.5 acres under vine in Texas according to the 2022 Texas Crush Report and Vineyard Production Survey published by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.  Note that this number is based on a voluntary survey and likely well under-reported.

Other names:

Aglianco Di Puglia, Aglianica, Aglianica De Pontelatone, Aglianichella, Aglianichello, Aglianico Amaro, Aglianico Calabrese, Aglianico Comune, Aglianico Crni, Aglianico Del Vulture, Aglianico Di Benevento, Aglianico Di Castellaneta, Aglianico Di Lapio, Aglianico Di Taurasi, Aglianico Femminile, Aglianico Liscio, Aglianico Mascolino, Aglianico Nero, Aglianico Noir, Aglianico Pannarano, Aglianico Trignarulo, Aglianico Tringarulo, Aglianico Verase, Aglianico Zerpoluso, Aglianico Zerpuloso, Aglianicone, Aglianicuccia, Agliano, Agliano O Gagliano, Agliantica, Agliatica, Agliatico, Agnanico, Agnanico Di Castellaneta, Alianiko, Cascavoglia, Cassano, Cerasole, Ellanico, Ellenica, Ellenico, Fiano Rosso, Fresella, Gagliano, Gesualdo, Ghiandara, Ghianna, Ghiannara, Glianica, Gnanica, Gnanico, Granica, Granico, Hellanica, Malvasia, Olivella, Olivella Di San Cosmo, Pie Di Colombo, Prie Blanc, Ruopolo, Spriema, Tintora, Tintora Di Cerinola, Tringarulo, Uva Aglianica, Uva Castellaneta, Uva Dei Cani, Uva Di Castellaneta, Uva Nera, Zuccherina