red grape · regional specialty
Canaiolo
Tuscany, Italy
Say it
kah·nay·yoh·loh
The -aiolo suffix is a common Tuscan agricultural suffix; stress falls on the third of four syllables.
On the palate
red cherryblack cherrystrawberryred plumvioletblack pepper
How you spot it blind: silky tannins and a light bitter finish, the natural foil to Sangiovese
The story
First written down · 1303, Tuscany
Once the dominant red grape of Chianti, Canaiolo was relegated to a secondary blending role by Baron Ricasoli's 1872 formula, which codified Sangiovese as the majority variety.
Where it lives
Tuscany, Italy · Umbria, Italy · Lazio, Italy
Shows up as
still redroséChianti DOCGChianti Classico DOCGCarmignano DOCGVino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
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Also answers to Canaiolo Nero.