Italian Grapes
Aleatico
Aleatico is a red Italian wine grape known for producing sweet, aromatic wines, particularly passito styles. It is best known for its role in Elba Aleatico Passito, a sweet dessert wine from the island of Elba. Aleatico is also cultivated in other regions of central and southern Italy, including Tuscany, Apulia, and Lazio.
Aleatico Flavors
 Red Cherry |
 Lychee |
 Wild Strawberry |
 Roses |
Cherry, Lychee and Red Fruit are typical Aleatico flavors, with hints of Flowers.
About Aleatico
The Aleatico grape is thought to be native to Toscana in Italy.
In Toscana, the Aleatico dell’Elba Passito DOCG is dedicated to passito-style sweet wines.
In Italy, very few dessert wines receive the high DOCG level, making Aleatico dell’Elba Passito a rarity.
In Lazio the Aleatico di Gradoli DOC allows for producing a dry red wine, a sweet passito wine, and a fortified wine (Aleatico di Gradoli Liquoroso).
In Puglia, the Aleatico di Puglia DOC allows for producing two wines: Dolce Naturale (naturally sweet) and Liquoroso Dolce (fortified), both containing a minimum of 85% Aleatico.
In Chile, Aleatico is known as Red Moscatel.
About Passito
Passito is a word for wines made by the appassimento process where grapes are dried on straw mats, or by air ventilation, in order to concentrate the flavors and sweetness. After three to six months the grapes are pressed and the juice is fermented until it reaches the desired level of sweetness and alcohol.
Wine Region Toscana
Toscana is famous for the majestetic city of Firenze
Ponte Vecchio in Firenze
Black Grapes |
White Grapes |
65% Sangiovese |
6% Trebbiano |
Rosé Wines |
Sweet Wines |
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Denominations
Toscana has 11 DOCGs and 41 DOCs. Below is a list of the DOCGs.
Sangiovese:
Chianti DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Chianti Classico DOCG (80% Sangiovese)
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (100% Sangiovese)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG (90% Sangiovese)
Morellino di Scansano DOCG (85% Sangiovese)
Super Tuscan:
Carmignano DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon/Franc, Merlot)
Suvereto Rosso DOCG (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
White:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (85% Vernatcha)
Passito:
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG (100% Aleatico)