Piedirosso is a black-skinned grape variety native to Campania, particularly in the Naples area, with very ancient origins. It is also known by its dialect name, Per’ e palummo, which refers to the pedicels of the grapes, colored red like a pigeon’s leg. For many years, Piede di Colombo was the official name of the grape, which only changed to Piedirosso in the early 1900s. Piedirosso is also identified with a local grape variety known as Palombina Nera and the Colombina grape, whose descriptions date back to the Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder. Between the 1800s and 1900s, Piedirosso spread throughout the Naples area, in the Avellino region, and the Vesuvio and Monte Somma areas. The Piedirosso grape is found vinified in purity or in a blend with other local varieties such as Aglianico or Sciascinoso.
Today, Piedirosso is cultivated in the provinces of Caserta, Naples, and Salerno. The Piedirosso grape is part of many DOC (Denomination of Origin) and IGT (Geographical Indication) appellations of Campania, either as a pure varietal or in blends. It is found in the Sannio DOC, Sant’Agata dei Goti DOC, Costa d’Amalfi DOC, Campi Flegrei DOC, Falerno DOC in the Lacrima Christi wine, and in Taburno, including the rosé variety. Piedirosso is also intensively cultivated on the islands of Capri and Ischia for their respective appellations. Piedirosso is a very vigorous grape variety with medium-late ripening, occurring in the first 20 days of October. Its yields are average or low but consistent. It produces medium-large, pyramidal-shaped clusters, rather loose, with medium-sized, spherical berries, with a high concentration of pruina on the thick, red-violet skin.
The Piedirosso variety prefers limestone soils and finds its natural environment in the volcanic soils of Campania, especially on hills at an elevation of 300-400 meters. It favors low-expansion training systems. Piedirosso wines have a beautiful ruby red color and their aromatic range varies from red fruits like plums and cherries in young wines to tertiary notes in those aged in wood, with hints of coffee, tobacco, and spices. In the Sannio area, the wines also present resinous and smoky aromas, with small floral notes that can have balsamic peaks in their best expressions. Piedirosso wine pairs well with poultry and feathered game, but it can also be accompanied by structured pork dishes, sausages, and aged cheeses.
