Marsigliana Nera is a red wine grape variety grown in the Calabria region of its native Italy. Also called Marcigliana or Marcigliano, Marsigliana Nera is rarely bottled on its own as it is used as a colouring agent, adding incidental tobacco and red berry notes, hence it features in several Calabresi IGT wines.

Where grown: Marsigliana Nera grows mainly along Calabria’s Tyrrhenian or western side, especially near Lamezia Terme, and around Belmonte Calabro, Pianopoli and San Pietro a Maida.

Viticulture: Very disease resistant, Moderate vigour.

Wine styles: Marsigliana is rarely vinified as monovarietal, historically it has been used as a colouring agent. Intense bright red berry and tobacco flavours.

Wines: Calabria: Lamezia DOC (from 20 to 45%). | Scavigna DOC (0-20%). |  Also features in several IGT wines in Calabria.

Bibliography

Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).