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Italy's Native Wine Grapes Guide

Famoso

Grape's Data Sheet

The Famoso Wine Grape in Italy

Famoso - The Grape and the Wines

Famoso is a white grape variety characteristic of Romagna which, rediscovered after years of neglect, is now returning to be an integral part of the enological offerings of this region. The first documents mentioning Famoso date back to 1437. In the 19th century, its presence was reported on the hills of Cesena, where it was also used for the production of table grapes. In the 20th century, after phylloxera, there was a significant contraction in the area cultivated with Famoso, bringing it almost to the brink of extinction. Today, some producers have seen in this grape variety a heritage of aromas and biodiversity to be valued, and it can be found in the areas of Forlì, Bertinoro, Faenza, Brisighella, and Bagnacavallo. The Famoso grape is a rustic plant, also suitable for less fertile soils and fairly harsh winter temperatures. This resistance is counterbalanced by a relatively modest productivity.

The wine produced with Famoso is characterized by intense aromas similar to those of Moscato, with sweet floral notes, ripe, exotic, and dried fruit. The fruit and flower scents resemble a Gewürztraminer without the typical spicy note. On the palate, it is fresh, slender, with softness and good balance, and a characteristic almond finish. Its aromaticity was considered excessive in the early 20th century, which partly led to its abandonment, relegating it to local consumption as a table grape. Today, the aromas are a strength of the wine obtained from the Famoso grape, which, along with its softness and structure, makes it ideal with fish and fresh cheeses from Romagna, such as Raviggiolo and Squacquerone.

famoso a native wine grape of Italy

Famoso - General Info Table

Famoso is one of the  Aromatic Grapes, Native Grapes with White berry widespread mainly in Emilia-Romagna, officially listed in the “Catalogo nazionale varietà di vite” since 2009. Its surface under vines in Italy is 6 ha.
Berry colorWhite berry
Grape CategoryAromatic Grapes, Native Grapes
Main RegionEmilia-Romagna
Surface under Vines in Italy6 ha
Year of listing2009

Famoso - Ampelographic Data

Each grape variety is characterized by Ampelographic Descriptors that define the appearance of its main elements. The ampelographic features of the Famoso grape variety are:
Leaf Features
The leaf of the Famoso grape variety is medium-sized, wedge-shaped, with no lobes, with three lobes.
Bunch Features
The bunch of the Famoso grape variety is sparse, medium-sized, cone-shaped.
Berry Features
The berries of the Famoso grape variety are medium-sized, of obovoid shape and with Buccia pruinosa, firm, thick and yellow-greenish colored skin.

Famoso - Wine Features

The Varietal Wine obtained from each and every Grape Variety, features precisely defined organoleptic characteristics. Referred to Famoso grapes, they are as follows:
Varietal Wine's features
The wine obtained from Famoso grapes is . On the palate the wine is aromatic.

Famoso - Agricultural & Productive Features

Each and every grape variety features very specific agricultural and productive characteristics, such as productivity, yield, ripening time, the ideal type of climate or pruning system, sensitivity to adversities, varying degrees of disease resistance and many others. For the Famoso grape variety, the main characteristics are:

Famoso - Appellations of Origin

The Quattrocalici Grape Varieties Database collects data on all grape varieties that are explicitly mentioned in at least one Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) denomination. The Famoso grape variety is mentioned in the regulations of the following denominations:
DenominationTypeRegion
Ravenna IGTIGTEmilia-Romagna
Rubicone IGTIGTEmilia-Romagna