red grape · rare
Oseleta
Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
Say it
oh·seh·leh·tah
Four syllables; stress on third. 'Useleta' spelling reflects the same Venetian root 'osèl' (bird).
On the palate
Body
full
Acidity
high
Tannin
high
Aromatics
pronounced
blackberryblack cherryvioletblack pepperdried herbsgraphite
How you spot it blind: massive firm tannins and violet florals over dark berry fruit
The story
First written down · 16th century, Verona (Panvirio)
Revived from near-extinction by Masi winery in the early 1980s, registered in Italy's National Grape Varieties Registry in 2000, and admitted to Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella DOC blends (up to 10%) in 2003.
Where it lives
Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy
Shows up as
still redValpolicellaAmarone della Valpolicella