Piedirosso

Piedirosso is a red grape indigenous to Campania and is a major component of such wines as Lacryma Christi (above) and other wines from around Naples, It is also allowed as a minor component of Taurasi DOCG. The name Piedirosso - literally red feet in Italian, refers to the way the the stems form three branches and are reddish brown in colour, so they look like the red feet of pigeons under the white plumage, this also being reflected in the local synonym of Per'e Palummo (dove's foot). Piedirosso produces ruby coloured, full bodied wines with red fruit notes and soft tannins. Earthy and mushroom notes can also be found in top examples, with the volcanic ash soil contributing a minerally slightly salty savour to wines grown on such soils.  As a blending grape, it contributes fruitiness, softness and complexity to wines like Taurasi where the intensity of Aglianico might be too much. Mastroberardino named their Aglianico Piedirosso blend after Pliny's Naturalis Historiae, recalling the Falernum wines of those times some two millennia ago.