The Riesling Italico grape variety, despite its name, is said to be of French origin, from where it later spread to Germany and many other Central European countries. In German, it is known as Welschriesling, where the prefix “Welsch-” (literally “of Latin origin”) can be broadly interpreted as “Italian” (hence Riesling Italico) but also “French,” emphasizing its difference from Rheinriesling (Rhine Riesling), the original variety. The spread of Riesling Italico in Italy occurred significantly later than in its countries of origin, likely in the post-phylloxera period, but not before the early 1900s, as there are no records of this grape variety in Italy prior to that time. It is said that Riesling Italico was imported into the northeastern regions of Italy during the Austro-Hungarian rule, coming from the area of what is now the Czech Republic.

There are notable differences between Rheinriesling and Riesling Italico, both in ampelographic terms (cluster and leaf) and in the resulting wine, which, in the case of Riesling Italico, is lighter and more approachable compared to the more aristocratic tones of Rheinriesling. Blending the two varieties in any proportion always results in wines of great elegance. The wine made from the Riesling Italico grape is pale straw yellow with greenish reflections. On the nose, it is fruity, with notes of quince and apricot, sometimes accompanied by light mineral hints. On the palate, it is fresh and dry, of medium body, with a slightly bitter aftertaste, suitable for producing still, semi-sparkling, or sparkling wines.