Italian Varietal Wines Are Popular for Temecula Wine Tasting – The Aglianico Grape - By: vlcarticle

When you think of Italian wine the varietals that pop into your mind initially could be Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Super Tuscan Sangiovese as well as basket wines (Chianti). With over 2,000 Italian grape varietals recognized, there are numerous other Italian varietals that are becoming attainable in the United States and the Temecula Wine Country is starting to recognize and harvest them.

Ever heard of grape varietals such as Aglianico, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Malvasia Bianca, Arneis or Primitivo? Fortunately, they are all now being planted as well as exist in well-known productive vineyards in the Temecula Valley AVA.

The newly discovered interest in these varietals is partially due to the like region of Temecula Valley to the regions that these vines thrive in Italy . Another reason for the interest in harvesting these varietals is that they previously were not accessible in the United States.

We will discuss one of these new arrival of Italian varietals in Temecula Valley Wine Country. Aglianico (pronounced ah-LY-AH-nee-koe) is a black grape grown in the Campania and Basilicata regions of Italy. The vine began in Greece and was brought to Compania by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin for Greek Vine. Another origin derives the name Aglianico from a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin adjective which indicates the whole of southern Italy in the Roman age. Earlier in Roman times, it was the main grape of the famous Falernian wine which was the Roman equal of a First Growth. Current research has indicated that Aglianico may be related to the Syrah grape.

Recently Aglianico has been planted in Australia and the United States, particularly in Southern California. Aglianico does well in dry, sunny climates like that found in Temecula Valley AVA.

In 1988, Caparone Winery in the Paso Robles began the first American Aglianico planting at their San Marcos Road vineyard. They produced the first American Aglianico wine in 1992 and continue to produceAglianico presently.

Wines harvested from Aglianico are likely to be full bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, making this a wine that has aging potential. The rich flavors of the wine make it appropriate for matching with rich meats such as lamb and wonderful red-sauced pastas.

Here in the Temecula Valley, Aglianico is available for wine tasting blended as a percentage of the dessert port-style wine available at Masia de Yabar Winery located at 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco as well as a varietal Estate wine at Cougar Vineyard & Winery located at 39870 De Portola Road. Both of these wineries are located on the De Portola Wine Trail of Temecula Wine Country. There is a well established vineyard grown on property owned by the Temecula Olive Oil Company also planted in 2006 on the winery property of Cougar Vineyard & Winery.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery is planted in entirely Italian varietals with 2,000 of the 8,500 vines being Aglianico. We will be discussing some of these other varietals being grown by Cougar in future articles about the Italian grape varietals grown in Temecula Wine Country of Southern California.

About the Author

Rick Buffington is the CEO of Cougar Temecula Winery. This small boutique is a favorite stop for Temecula Wine Tasting. Next time you visit the Temecula wineries, check out Cougar Winery. Our web address is http://CougarVineyards.com and phone number is (951) 303-3969.

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