red grape · regional staple
Piedirosso
Campania, Italy
Say it
pyed·ee·ross·oh
The 'ie' in piedi collapses to a quick glide; Neapolitan name Per'e Palummo (pair-ay pah-LOOM-moh) is equally current
On the palate
red cherryraspberrypomegranatevioletblack olivesmoke
How you spot it blind: volcanic smoke and salinity lift soft red fruit above its weight class
The story
First written down · 16th century, Campania (as Palombina nera)
DNA analysis (2013) identified Piedirosso as a probable Tintora × unknown cross; pre-phylloxera ungrafted vines survived on the sandy volcanic soils of Campi Flegrei where phylloxera could not establish.
Family tree: TINTORA × ?
Where it lives
Campi Flegrei DOC · Vesuvio DOC · Sannio DOC · Ischia DOC
Shows up as
still redLacryma Christi del Vesuviosweet