The Impigno grape variety is an ancient grape variety from Puglia, although its origins are very uncertain. It may have originated in the Tarantino area, particularly around Martina Franca, from where it spread to its current cultivation area in the Brindisi region. It is said that the name “Impigno” derives from the farmer who first cultivated this variety in the area in the early 1900s. There are hypotheses suggesting that the Bombino Bianco, also a Pugliese variety, and the Piedmontese Quagliano may be its predecessors, although there is no evidence of the latter’s presence in Puglia. The presence of the Impigno grape in Puglia is nevertheless rare and limited to the countryside around Ostuni, Brindisi, and San Vito dei Normanni, an area where it is highly appreciated by winegrowers, unlike in other parts of the same region.

From an ampelographic point of view, the leaf of the Impigno grape is medium-sized, pentagonal, and five-lobed. Its bunch is medium-sized, not very compact, and winged. The berry is ovoid, medium-sized, and yellowish-green in color. The grape variety is often blended with Francavidda, and the resulting wine is of good quality and rather simple to drink, suitable for summer dishes and pairing with appetizers and seafood.