Greco Bianco White Wine Variety

Greco Bianco is a southern Italian white variety, presumably of Greek origins. It is often called Greco di Tufo in Australia, but that is actually the name of of an Italian DOCG designating wine from a particulars region on Italy.

It is used to make the dry Greco di Tufo in Campania Italy, and the sweet Greco di Bianco of Calabria. This latter wine come from the town of Bianco, hence the 'di'. There is no 'di' in the name of the variety.

Greco is being pioneered in Australia along with other Southern Italian varieties in the belief that Australian climates are more akin to the south, rather than the north of Italy.

Australian Wineries with Greco

Beach Road Langhorne Creek | Chalmers Murray Darling | Di Lusso Estate Mudgee | Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek |

The Taste of Greco

On the Wine Grape Varietal Table Steve De Long describes the taste of Greco as

Flinty, mineral, grapey, peachy, best drunk when young

The early indications are that this variety has quite a future in Australia, however it is occupying a similar niche to varieties like Fiano as a Southern Italian white variety. Fiano has a head start, and it may be difficult to get a critical mass of growers and winemakers interested in the variety. That said, all varieties are initially championed by a just a few pioneers.