Black grape variety cultivated in Apulia

Lambrusco Maestri n.

A black grape variety of important national distribution, also present in Apulia, where it is listed among the suitable varieties throughout the region.

Origin and Historical Outline

Its name seems to be derived from “Villa Maestri” in the town of San Pancrazio, province of Parma, from where it supposedly spread to other parts of Italy. There are several hypotheses as to the origin of this vine; most probably, it is derived from the spontaneous “Lambrusche” and “Brusche” of the Apennines.

Synonyms

Grappello Maestri, Lambrusco di Spagna

Shoot tip: expanded, downy, whitish green, with a pink hue.

Leaf: medium, pentagonal, trilobate or almost lobeless. Open U or V-shaped petiole sinus; not very deep upper lateral sinuses. Rolled blade, often hardly pronounced lobes.

Bunch: medium, elongated, cylindrical to pyramid-shaped, mostly with a wing, slightly compact.

Berry: small, subcircular; blue-black, pruinose, thick skin; pulpy flesh with little juice, sour, with a plain taste.

Phenology

Time of bud burst: intermediate

Flowering time: intermediate

Veraison: intermediate

Ripening: intermediate-late

Agronomic and Cultural Characteristics

Vigour: high

Average bunch weight: 330 g (min 220 g – max 460 g)

Average berry weight: 1.5 g (min 1.3 g – max 1.9 g)

Number of seeds per berry: 2 3

Average rachis weight: 19 g

Fertility of buds: 2 – 1

Potential fertility: 1.7

Actual fertility: 1.3

Environmental and Cultural Requirements

Abundant and consistent production. Without peculiar requirements as to climate conditions. Particularly fertile soils enhance its vigour; suited for short pruning.

Chemical Features of the Wine

Alcoholic content: 10.5 – 12 % by vol.

pH: 3.25 – 3.50

Total acidity: 6.5 – 9 g/l

Oenological Use and Sensorial Properties of the Wine

The Lambrusco Maestri n. vine is used exclusively for winemaking. In Apulia it is used in blends for the production of the QWpsr Orta Nova wine and other quality wines, to which it gives, among other things, an important contribution to the anthocyanic endowment.

If vinified as a single variety, the result is a wine with a very intense colour, dry, tannic, full-bodied, fresh, with good fixed acidity and which retains its colour tone and intensity for a very long time. It is sometimes bottled while still sweet to obtain a sweetish, sparkling wine.

Economic Significance and Geographic Distribution

The Lambrusco Maestri n. vine is present in Apulia, where it makes an important contribution to the production of quality red wine. It is registered among the varieties suitable for cultivation in all the production areas of the region.

Author and Source

Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com

The data sheet of the Lambrusco Maestri 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.