Nielluccio is a synonym for the well-known Sangiovese grape variety. The Romans are said to have referred to Sangiovese as “Sangue Jovis”, the “Blood of Jupiter”, which would make the grape variety, which is now traditionally associated with Tuscany, one of the oldest in Europe. It has always been considered a Tuscan "original", but recent research has shown that it emerged from a natural crossing of the Tuscan variety Ciliegiolo with Calabresedi Montenuovo. Since the latter variety only existed near Naples, the origin of Sangiovese could also be assumed there. Overall, its exact origins remain obscure. The extremely slow and late-ripening variety is now widespread in central Italy, but its core lies in Tuscany, where it stands for the great wines of Chianti and its sub-regions, the most famous of which is the Chianti Classico, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the Brunello di Montalcino. Because of its richness in tannins and its distinctive acid structure, Sangiovese was and is mostly blended with a small proportion of other grape varieties. In Chianti, these used to be white wine varieties, but today international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot have found their way. Only the lower-lying Brunello produces its voluminous wines purely from a Sangiovese clone. The Sangiovese produces good yields, but a yield limit is a prerequisite for high-quality wines. Unfortunately, with its thin shells, it is also susceptible to rot. As a very high-quality red wine variety, wine-growing countries in the New World are also interested in this variety, especially California and Australia.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Niella
