Italian Wine Varietals are Plentiful in the Temecula Wineries, The Montepulciano Grape
Posted: Monday, March 01, 2010
by Dave Gregory
Temecula Wineries
When you think of Italian wine the types that flash into your mind first might be Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Super Tuscan Sangiovese and basket wines (Chianti). With above 2,000 Italian grape varietals recognized, there are so many other Italian varietals that are becoming attainable in the United States and the Temecula Wine Country is beginning to notice and harvest them.
The newly discovered attraction in these varietals is partly due to the similar region of Temecula Valley to the regions that these vines thrive in Italy . Similar reasons for the curisoity in planting these varietals is that they previously were not available in the United States.
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 etymology derives the name Aglianico from a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin adjective which signifies the entire southern Italy in the Roman age. Earlier in Roman times, it was the main grape of the well-known Falernian wine which was the Roman equal of a First Growth. Current analysis has indicated that Aglianico could be related to the Syrah grape.
Recently Aglianico has been planted in Australia and the United States, specifically in Southern California. Aglianico thrives in dry, sunny climates like that found in Temecula Valley AVA.
In 1988, Caparone Winery in the Paso Robles began 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 aging possibility. The rich flavors of the wine make it appropriate for matching with rich meats such as lamb and wonderful red-sauced dishes.
In Temecula Valley, Aglianico is available for wine tasting combined as a percentage of the dessert port-style wine available at Masia de Yabar Winery situated at 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco as well as a varietal Estate wine at Cougar Vineyard & Winery situated at 39870 De Portola Road. Both of these wineries reside on the De Portola Wine Trail of Temecula Wine Country. There is a well known vineyard grown on property owned by the Temecula Olive Oil Company also planted in 2006 on the winery property of Cougar Vineyard & Winery.
Cougar Vineyard & Winery is planted in whole Italian varietals with 2,000 of the 8,500 vines being Aglianico. We will be talking about some of these other varietals being grown by Cougar in upcoming articles about the Italian grape varietals grown in Temecula Wine Country of Southern California.
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.
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