Vespolina is a red wine grape variety native to Italy found in the Piedmont region or Piemonte (in Italian) where it is the most important red wine grape after Nebbiolo,’ from which it is an offspring (Ian D’Agata: Dec 2015). In Piedmont, it is often used in Nebbiolo-dominant blends to give a spicy kick.Vespolina is also found in Lombardy. Vespolina is blended in small amounts in Boca DOC, Fara DOC, Ghemme DOCG, Lessona DOC and Sizzano DOC, with varietal wines often labelled as Coste della Sesia DOC or Colline Novaresi DOC. | Lombardia (Lombardy): Oltrepò Pavese DOC.

Synonyms: Ughetta. | Uvetta di Canneto.

Wine style: Bright mid-weight fruit and tannin plus black pepper-spice notes that can help lift some Nebbiolo-dominant blends. Poor examples show rough tannins. 

Viticulture: Disease-prone. Irregular cropper.

Bibliography

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

Ian d’Agata, Vinitaly International Academy tasting, Signorvino, Veneto 01 Dec 2015.