Ciliegiolo
Tuscany, Italy
A light, cherry-scented red of Tuscany, Umbria and Liguria, closely related to Sangiovese and identified as one of its parents.
Sensory profile
Characteristics
Flavor & aroma
At a glance
Production facts
Prevalence
Niche
Climate
Moderate climate
Ripening
Mid season
Wine styles
Still
Where it's grown
Geography
Shaded areas are the state, province or département(s) containing each region, so they run wider than the appellations themselves.
Italy
Tuscany (Maremma)
Fuller, more structured versions, and a traditional Chianti blending grape.
Umbria
Light, easy-drinking reds.
Background
Origin & History
Ciliegiolo takes its name from ciliegia, cherry. A 2007 DNA study identified it as a parent of Sangiovese, with Calabrese Montenuovo; a second study the same year read the relationship the other way round, so the direction is still disputed, though the two grapes are certainly close relatives.
It is grown in Tuscany, where the best examples have some structure, in Umbria, where it makes light and easy wines, and in the Ligurian Riviera.
Lineage
Family tree
Parentage not recorded — Ciliegiolo is an old variety of unknown origin. Click a related grape to explore its own lineage.