Susumaniello is a variety of red wine grape from the 'heel' of Italy. It is an ancient

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry (botany), berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non-Climacteric (botany), climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of ...

variety which is grown in the

province of Brindisi The Province of Brindisi ( it, Provincia di Brindisi) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Brindisi. It has an area of and a total population of 401,652 (2013). Geography The Province of Brindisi is situated ...

in the southern

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

region of Apulia.

Distribution and wines

Susumaniello is found only in the Italian region of Apulia. Until recently, the variety had fallen quite out of favour with viticulturalists; however, since 6 September 2003 it has been included in the list of varieties approved by the Apulian region for cultivation in the area of central Murgia. It is used as a blending grape in the production of both red and rosé

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are ...

s such as the

Negroamaro Negroamaro (seldom Negro amaro; meaning "black ndbitter") is a red wine grape variety native to southern Italy. It is grown almost exclusively in Apulia and particularly in Salento, the peninsula which can be visualised as the "heel" of Italy. ...

-based

Brindisi Rosso Brindisi Rosso is a red DOC ( Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wine from the Southern Italian province of Brindisi, in the region of Apulia. The official appellation was granted on November 22, 1979, when a presidential decree was published ...

and Brindisi Rosato and the

Ottavianello Cinsaut or Cinsault ( ) is a red wine grape whose heat tolerance and productivity make it important in Languedoc-Roussillon and the former French colonies of Algeria, Lebanon, and Morocco. It is often blended with grapes such as Grenache and Ca ...

-based

Ostuni Ottavianello Ostuni is a white or ''rosé'' style Italian wine awarded ''Denominazione di Origine Controllata'' (DOC) status in 1972, in the Province of Brindisi of Apulia.M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 221 Hungry Minds 2001 ...

Vine and viticulture

Susumaniello needs a warm Mediterranean climate.

Origin

There are several theories about Susumaniello's origins, most of which suggest that it came to Puglia across the Adriatic, perhaps from Greece or the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. DNA profiling shows that the variety is a natural cross between a Puglian table grape and the white-wine grape Garganega. Garganega was once thought to be of Greek origin (whence its southern Italian nickname Grecanico), which no doubt led some to the conclusion that Susumaniello was also Greek. According to one hypothesis, it should have come from Dalmatia (Croatia). The medium ripening vine is very productive, which is indicated by its name. You could pack a donkey with the many grapes. The saying "Susu lu somariello!" means "Run donkey!" https://glossary.wein.plus/susumaniello

Synonyms

Cozzomaniello, Cuccipaniello, Grismaniello, Mondonico, Puledro, Somarello Nero, Susomaniello, Susomariello Nero, Sussumariello, Susumariello Nero, Uva Nera, Zingarello, Zingariello, Zuzomaniello.

Notes and references

* regione.puglia.i
Classificate nuove varietà di vite per la produzione dei vini pugliesi
* politicheagricole.i
Banca Dati Vini DOC, DOCG e IGT
;Footnotes

External links

VIVC Bibliography
{{Wines Red wine grape varieties Wine grapes of Italy Wine grapes of Apulia