Bianco d'Alessano White Wine Variety

Salena Estate entered their 2010 Bianco d'Alessano. It's probably not unfair to say that the judges were unaware of the variety before this show. But they were obviously impressed as the wine won trophies for Best White, Best Italian Variety and Best Wine of the Show.

Bianco d'Alessano is grown almost exclusively in the Italian region of Puglia where it is blended in a number of DOCs including Gravina, Locorotondo, Ostuni. Its blending partners in these white wines include Verdeca, Greco, Malvasia and Fiano.

In Australia Bianco has the potential to join Vermentino, Fiano and Greco as emerging varieties to produce medium bodied wines which will perform well in warm to hot regions. Salena Estate in the Riverland Region of South Australia is certainly showing just what is possible.

The variety is very late ripening and is renowned for it's ability to retain acidity in hot conditions.

Some synonyms for the variety include Acchiappapalmento, Bianco di Lessame, Bianco di Valdigna and Verdurino.