Meeting my old friend Cinsaut in Italy

by Darby
(Puglia (for this week))

One of my favourite varieties is Cinsaut, an unfashionable variety known mainly from the Languedoc Region of France. Before the 1980s we called it Blue Imperial in Australia where today a few enthusiasts are keeping it going. See Vinodiversity's Cinsaut page.
Here in Puglia Cinsaut pops up in the Ostuni DOC under the name of Ottovianello.

Ostuni is a stunning hilltop town on the Adriatic coast of Puglia. see the picture.

The primary grape variety of the Ostuni DOC classified red wine is Ottavianello with the wine sometimes labeled as Ostuni Ottavianello. Ottavianello must comprise of at least 85% of the blend. The remaining 0% – 15% may consist of Negroamaro and/or Malvasia Nera and/or Notar Domenico and/or Sussumaniello grapes. Cinsuat/Ottovianello is also used here as a minor component in other Puglian wines.

There is also the white DOC classified wine, Ostuni Bianco. It is made from a blend of mostly Impigno and Francavilla.