Malbo Gentile is a red wine grape native to Italy which looks and behaves very much like a wild grapevine.
Where grown: It grows almost everywhere in Emilia Romagna, often in sporadic plots, in the provinces of Piacenza, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Forlì- Cesena.
Wine styles: Monovarietal wines are more common in Romagna. Malbo Gentile features in Colli di Scandiano e Canossa DOC (a sparkling version is allowed) and in Ravenna Rosso IGT. Malbo Gentile is also used in various Lambrusco blends.
Viticulture: Malbo Gentile has large, loosely packed bunches, and medium-small, round, dark berries. Various di!erent biotypes of Malbo Gentile exist, with diverse characteristics.
Wine style: Very dark, tannic wines. Blackberry aromas and flavours are typical. Well made examples are smooth and mouth-coating.
Bibliography
See Ian D’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).
Italian Wine Unplugged (Positive Press, 2017), p.184.