Grape variety and grafted vine plant Grillo: all the secrets

Grillo

This vine originated in Apulia and it was brought to Sicily, in the Trapani area in particular, after the phylloxera invasion, where it spread rapidly.

CULTIVATED AREA IN ITALY

YEAR	1970	1982	1990	2000	2010
HECTARES	6.365	4.201	2.250	1.808	5.629

Bud-burst period: early.
Ripening period: everage.
Yield: good and constant.

Ampelographic characters:

the variety has within itself a fair degree of variability in terms of vigour and cluster shape and size. The bud has a downy greenish-white apex. The medium-sized, pentagonal, five-lobed or almost entire leaves have a V-shaped petiolar sinus. The underside tends to be glabrous. The medium-sized, cylindrical-conical, sometimes winged, sparse or semi-compact cluster bears medium-large spherical berries with a thick and consistent skin and sweet and simply-flavoured flesh.

Cultural aptitude:

vine of excellent vigour with an upright growth habit. It adapts to warm environments and to robust, slightly calcareous soils.

Training system and pruning:

it prefers small training systems and short or medium pruning.

Susceptibility to diseases and adverse conditions:

normal. It has an excellent tolerance of high temperatures.

Enological potential:

it produces straw-yellow, fruity-floral wines with a dry, slightly mineral, tannic flavour and good structure, suitable for long ageing and for blends with other wines or as a base for Marsala and Vermouth production.