white grape · regional staple
Graševina
northeastern Italy (VIVC; DNA; locally called Riesling Italico)
Say it
grah·sheh·vee·nah
The 'š' is a clear 'sh' as in 'shoe'; four syllables, stress on first; '-vina' rhymes with 'Tina'
On the palate
green applelemonlimepearwhite peachelderflower
How you spot it blind: piercing green-apple acidity with elderflower lift and faint almond finish
The story
First written down · 16th century, northeastern Italy
DNA identifies Coccalona Nera (ancient Italian cultivar) as one parent; the variety spread across Central Europe under Habsburg rule and is entirely unrelated to Rhine Riesling.
Family tree: Coccalona Nera × unknown
Where it lives
Croatia (Slavonia, Baranja) · Austria (Burgenland, Steiermark) · Hungary
Shows up as
still whitesparklingsweetBurgenland TBA/BA/Ausbruch
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Also answers to Welschriesling, Laški Riesling, Olaszrizling, Riesling Italico.
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