The Ciliegiolo grape is an indigenous black grape variety from Tuscany and is cultivated in several regions of central Italy, from Liguria to Marche, Abruzzo, and Lazio, although its main cultivation area remains central Tuscany and particularly the Maremma, where it was possibly imported from Spain towards the end of the 19th century. The Ciliegiolo grape gets its name from the color and the characteristic aroma reminiscent of cherries. Despite being capable of producing excellent wines and supporting Sangiovese, its cultivation is in sharp decline (currently around 2,000 hectares). The Ciliegiolo grape is mainly used in blending, both with Sangiovese and with low-alcohol, acidic wines. In fact, Ciliegiolo adds alcohol content, sweet cherry flavors, and softness to these blends, as well as a fair aging potential.
When vinified in purity, Ciliegiolo has a beautiful ruby color with bright violet streaks, good alcohol content, complex and fine aromas, a structured palate, and full body. Wines from Ciliegiolo are generally to be enjoyed young due to their low acidity, which makes them soft on the palate. However, Ciliegiolo wines can also age well, and in such cases, producers can achieve wines with even more intense and complex aromas, where fruity notes of cherry blend with those of plums and jammy berries. Ciliegiolo is a very versatile grape: when vinified as a white or with short maceration, it can also produce fresh and fragrant rosé wines, and it is also suitable for drying. Ciliegiolo has large, compact, and elongated pyramidal clusters, always winged. The berries are always large, spherical, with a medium-thick pruinose skin of a black color with violet reflections. From a cultivation standpoint, Ciliegiolo prefers low-impact pruning since the basal buds are not very fertile, which affects yields. Ciliegiolo has good vigor and early maturation. To achieve good and consistent yields, in addition to pruning, it should be planted in hilly, slightly humid, and fertile soils, like those in Tuscany, where it also finds dry and warm climates.
