Black grape variety grown in Apulia

Aleatico n.

Aleatico n. is a vine of ancient cultivation widely present in Puglia. It is listed among the varieties suitable for cultivation throughout Apulia.

Origin and Historical Outline

The introduction of Aleatico in Italy is attributed to the Greeks in remote times. Subsequently it has spread more in Apulia and Lazio.
Aleatico was first considered a mutation of Muscat. Studies carried out by M. Crespan and N. Milani (2001) have shown that it is not a mutation but that Aleatico has a direct link with Muscat Blanc, from which it has inherited the aroma of muscat that characterizes it. More specifically, three accessions of black Aleatico were found to be identical to the DNA analysis (12 microsatellite loci) of three accessions of black Moscatello. Rovasenda reports that the names Moscatello nero and Moscato nero were used in some areas of Italy to indicate the Aleatico nero. Because Black Muscatel has a direct relationship with White Muscat, Aleatico has a direct relationship with White Muscat.

Synonyms

Aleatico di Altamura, Aleatico comune, Aleatico gentile, Aleatico di Toscana, Alegatico, Aliatico, Allianico, Lacrima cristi, Leatico, Liatico, Livatica, Occhio di Pernice, Uve dei Gesuiti, Uva liatica.

Shoot tip: expanded, straight, downy, yellowishgreen with carmine margins.

Leaf: medium, pentagonal or sometimes orbicular, trilobate but also quinquelobate. Lyre-shaped, generally open, sometimes closed petiole sinus; Ushaped overlapping upper lateral sinuses, Vshaped inferior sinuses, if present. Rolled blade.

Bunch: low or very low weight, oblong, with one wing, loose or medium dense.

Berry: low or medium-low weight, spheroidal, with transparent skin, very pruinose, medium thick, blue colour, aromatic with the typical muscat aroma.

Phenology

Time of bud burst: intermediate-early

Flowering time: early-intermediate

Veraison: intermediate-early

Ripening: early-intermediate

Agronomic and Cultural Characteristics

Vigour: medium

Average bunch weight: 160 g (min 100 g – max 240 g)

Average berry weight: 2.3 g (min 1.9 g – max 2.9 g)

Number of seeds per berry: 1-2

Average rachis weight: 12 g

Fertility of buds: 1 – 2

Potential fertility: 1.2

Actual fertility: 0.9

Environmental and Cultural Requirements

It has an average resistance to common vine parasites.

Chemical Features of the Wine

Alcoholic content: 12 18 % by vol.

pH: 3.40 3.60

Total acidity: 5.5 7 g/l

Oenological Use and Sensorial Properties of the Wine

Used in Apulia for the production of the QWpsr’s Aleatico di Puglia, Salice Salentino and Gioia del Colle. The colour is ruby red with marked purplish glints, soft, velvety, sweet, with a delicious scent and sometimes very intense muscat aroma.

Economic Significance and Geographic Distribution

The vine is quite widespread in Apulia, especially in the Salento area and in the province of Bari. It is registered among the grape varieties suited to being grown throughout the whole Apulia region.

Author and Source

Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com

The data sheet of the Aleatico n., revised and updated, is extracted from: Antonacci Donato (2006). Viti di Puglia, Adda publisher. Its use is granted by the author citing the source.