There is a certain glamour to Italian wine varieties in Australia these days, but not much of it has rubbed off on Trebbiano. Even Jancis Robinson attaches the label "undistinguished" to the variety. In France it goes under the name Ugni Blanc. Other synonyms include Spoletino, Perugino, Rusciolo, Bobiolo, Muscadet Aigre, St-Emilion, White Shiraz and White Hermitage.

The variety is planted all over Italy and it is the most commonly used white variety in that country. Trebbiano is high yielding, hence its popularity, and it gives acidity in blends.

In France Ugni Blanc is the most widely planted white variety. Again it it used for its high yields and acidity, but it plays an important role in providing wine for distilling into Cognac and Armagnac.

The variety was popular in Australia, where along with Colombard, it is used to make bulk wines. If you've had a 'Dry White' from a cask made in "South East Australia" you've had Trebbiano.

But with care in the vineyard and careful winemaking some wineries have coaxed some quite good crisp dry white wines from the variety. Just the thing to go with the fish and chips on Friday night.

The following Australian wineries use Trebbiano

• Amulet Vineyard Beechworth
• Berton Vineyards Riverina
• Bella Ridge Swan District
• Calico Town Rutherglen
• Campbells Wines Rutherglen
• Chateau Dorrien Barossa Valley
• Cobbitty Wines South Coast Zone
• Melange Wines Riverina
• Mudgee Wines Mudgee
• Spinifex Barossa Valley
• Summerfield Pyrenees
• Taminick Cellars Glenrowan
• Waybourne Geelong

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