red grape · regional specialty
Freisa
Piedmont, Italy
Say it
fray·zah
On the palate
strawberryraspberryred cherryvioletroseearth
How you spot it blind: wild strawberry and rose perfume with bracingly tart, tannic structure
The story
First written down · 1517, Pancalieri, Turin province
DNA profiling confirmed a parent-offspring relationship between Freisa and Nebbiolo; ampelographer Ian D'Agata argues Freisa is the parent, making it a potential genetic ancestor of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Where it lives
Freisa d'Asti DOC · Freisa di Chieri DOC · Langhe DOC · Monferrato DOC
Shows up as
still redfrizzantesparklingsweet