Piedirosso in Neapolitan dialect "O per e’palummo" that is "pigeon's leg" is an ancient autochthonous red grape variety from Campania, only grown locally, typically in the Vesuvius area, second to Aglianico in cultivation. It is a very vigorous variety, with the characteristic reddish pedicel and stalk, which originate the name of the variety, resembling a pigeon’s leg.
Between 18th and 19th century the Piedirosso grape has spread around the Napoletano, in the Avellinese region and in the area of Vesuvius and Mount Somma. Piedirosso grape is vinified alone, or blended with other local grapes like Aglianico or Sciascinoso. It is cultivated in Campania, in the provinces of Caserta, Naples and Salerno.
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Piedirosso
is grown in 10 DOC areas in the Campania Region some of the most notable ones
are Ischia DOC where it is the dominant varietal in the islands Red Wines and
Passito Wines, Vesuvio DOC where it is used in making the Lacryma Christi
blends as well as the Penisola Sorrentina DOC where it’s the main ingredient in
the lightly sparkling Gragnano Wines.
Per e Palummo Grapes
Single-variety
wines made from Piedirosso tend to be deep ruby in color and full-bodied with
soft tannins. Typical flavors in these wines include plum, cherry and wild
berry fruit. More complex characteristics such as espresso, mushroom and damp
earth are exhibited in the better examples. A minerally, almost salty
characteristic can be found in many Piedirosso wines, which can in part be
attributed to the volcanic soils on which the grape thrives.
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