Groppello Gentile

The Groppello Gentile grape belongs to the family of Groppelli, all originating from Emilia Romagna, coming from the area of Lago di Garda to the Val di Non in Trentino. Many Latin authors wrote about it, including Virgil and Pliny the Elder. Compared to other Groppelli vines, Groppello gentile is very similar to that of Mocasina. It is widespread in Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna and the province of Trento and it is the most suitable for the preparation of rose wine. However, it is often the case that the subvarieties are mixed together. Groppello name comes from lump (“nodo” in the Venetian dialect), as the berries of this variety are closely packed. Groppello vine is found mostly in Veneto (in the provinces of Vicenza, Verona and Treviso), Trentino and Lombardy (in the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo). Its berry is black, medium, spherical, slightly flattened with skin of medium consistency, covered with bloom, homogeneous blue-black. The cluster is small, cylindrical or cylindrical-conical, very compact with medium, pentagonal, three-lobed or five-lobed leaves. The vine Groppello gentile prefers loose soil, well exposed, that ensure a good maturation and better defense against attacks of botrytis. The wine made from Groppello Gentile is ruby colored with medium acidity, full-bodied, soft on the palate, slightly spicy.