When you ponder Italian wine the grapes that most likely come to mind first might be Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Super Tuscan Sangiovese as well as basket wines (Chianti). With over 2,000 Italian grape varietals identified, there are so many other Italian varietals that are becoming available in the United States and the Temecula Wine Country is starting to recognize and harvest them.
Are you aware of grape varietals such as Aglianico, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Malvasia Bianca, Arneis or Primitivo? Well, they are all now being planted as well as exist in well-known producing vineyards in the Temecula Valley AVA.
The new found interest in these varietals is partially due to the like region of Temecula Valley to the regions that these vines thrive in Italy . Another reason for the curisoity in harvesting these varietals is that they formerally were not accessible in the United States.
In this article we will talk about one of these new arrival of Italian varietals in Temecula Valley Wine Country. Aglianico (pronounced ah-LY-AH-nee-koe) is a black grape grown in the Campania and Basilicata regions of Italy. The vine began in Greece and was brought to Compania by Greek settlers. The name could be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin for Greek Vine. Another origin derives the name Aglianico from a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin adjective which indicates the whole of southern Italy in the Roman age. Earlier in Roman times, it was the principal grape of the well-known Falernian wine which was the Roman equal of a First Growth. Recent research has resolved that Aglianico could be related to the Syrah grape.
Currently Aglianico has been planted in Australia and the United States, particularly in Southern California. Aglianico does well in dry, sunny areas like that found in Temecula Valley AVA.
In 1988, Caparone Winery in the Paso Robles established the first American Aglianico planting in their San Marcos Road vineyard. They created the first American Aglianico wine in 1992 and continue to produceAglianico to this day.
Wines harvested from Aglianico are likely to be full bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, making this a wine that has maturing possibility. The rich flavors of the wine make it appropriate for paring with rich meats such as lamb and wonderful red-sauced pastas.
Here in the Temecula Valley, Aglianico is offered for wine tasting combined as a percentage of the dessert port-style wine offered at Masia de Yabar Winery located at 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco as well as a varietal Estate wine at Cougar Vineyard & Winery located at 39870 De Portola Road. The two of these wineries are located on the De Portola Wine Trail of Temecula Wine Country. There is a well established vineyard grown on property owned by the Temecula Olive Oil Company and also planted in 2006 on the winery property of Cougar Vineyard & Winery.
Cougar Vineyard & Winery is planted in entirely Italian varietals with 2,000 of the 8,500 vines being Aglianico. Cougar will be talking about some of these other varietals being grown by Cougar in future articles regarding the Italian grape varietals grown in Temecula Wine Country of Southern California.
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Rick Buffington is the CEO of Cougar Temecula Winery. This small boutique is a favorite stop for Temecula Wine Tasting. Next time you visit the Temecula wineries, check out Cougar Winery. Our web address is http://CougarVineyards.com and phone number is (951) 303-3969.
