Aglianico wine variety in Australia

Aglianico, the name of this red wine variety which is now at home in Southern Italy, is believed to be derived from Ellenico, the Italian word for Greek. This gives us a clue that the wine may have been introduced by the Greeks who settled in Southern Italy a couple of millennia ago. The variety hasn't moved far since, seemingly content to hibernate in obscurity in Campania and Basilicata, but that is now changing

In Italy this variety makes full bodied elegant wines with firm tannins and high acidity. Aglianico is made into varietal wines or is often the dominant variety in blends. It sometimes plays a minor role in blends with other varieties such as the ubiquitous Sangiovese.

The Italian DOCs of Taurasi and Aglianico of Vulture are where the best Aglianico wines are produced. The combination of flavour, tannin and acid means that these wines are suitable for aging.

In Australia the variety has been introduced into the Murray Darling Region with encouraging results. Aglianico's ability to make deeply coloured and aromatic wines in warm to hot regions indicate that it is a variety with considerable future in Australia.

As more wineries and grapegrowers become more concerned about global warming they are looking for varieties like this one, and for example the white varieties Fiano and Bianco d'Alessano.

Some Australian Wineries with Aglianico

• Amadio Adelaide Hills
• Atse's Corner Wines Barossa
• Brown Brothers King Valley
• Chalmers Murray Darling
• Di Lusso Estate Mudgee
• Grey Sands Northern Tasmania
• Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek
• Pepper Tree Wines Orange
• Pertaringa McLaren Vale
• Rimfire Vineyards Darling Downs
• Sutton Grange Winery Bendigo
• Westend Estate Riverina

Food pairing with Aglianico

These wines are firm and full bodied. Perhaps you could choose a game dish such as wild boar, or kangaroo.

In Southern Italian cuisine spicier sauces are used for pasta dishes. One of the favourites in the region is Spaghetti alla puttanesca, prostitute's spaghetti, where the sauce is made with garlic, olive oil and tomatoes but given a spicier savoury flavour by the addition of anchovies, capers and chili. A strongly flavoured sauce demands a robust wine, and Aglianico fits the bill.

Back from Aglianico to Australian Wine Varieties Index

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