Veruccese, also known as Verucchiese, is an indigenous grape variety from the Emilia-Romagna region, primarily found in the Romagna area, near Rimini, particularly around the municipality of Verucchio, which lends the grape its name. Verucchio has long been recognized as a region suited for viticulture, as evidenced by records of vineyard transactions among local notables between the 13th and 16th centuries. However, much of the historical knowledge regarding the specific grape varieties cultivated in the area has been lost over time.
A reference to “Sangiovese Verucchiese” appears in Gaddo Gaddini’s late-19th-century essay Monografia del vigneto Altavilla. This suggests that at the time, Veruccese was considered a biotype of Sangiovese, although its earlier ripening sets it apart significantly.
Recent Developments
The 2010 Agricultural Census reported only 2,000 square meters of Veruccese under cultivation, as older vineyards had been misclassified as Sangiovese. By the end of 2020, the cultivated area increased to 0.6357 hectares, although current estimates suggest that the total planted area remains under 5 hectares.
This extremely limited cultivation makes Veruccese one of the rarest grape varieties in Italy, and its preservation and revival are dependent on ongoing efforts by dedicated local producers.
