Greco di Tufo

 

Synonym: Greco di Napoli, Greco della Torre, Greco di Tufo, Grecula, Greco del Vesuvio, Grieco.

 

Commonly mistaken for: Lacrima, Riesling Italico

 

Origin: The original vines were probably brought in to Italy by Hellenic farmers in the VII-VIII century B.C.  In his 1909 book “Viala-Vermorel” Italian writer Michele Carlucci states that Greco di Tufo was derived from the Aminea Gemella (Twins) traditionally known to have been cultivated on the slopes of Vesuvius in Latin times. It was dubbed “twins” because of the presence of double clusters, a constant character in the bunch formations of this vine. In the recent past this vine was considered to be identical to the Italian Riesling (Riesling Italico), but with after more detailed observation the difference it was noted.

 

Agronomic and environmental aspects: A productive vine, it has a preference for deep soils, friable, fresh and of volcanic origin. In soils deriving from the breakdown of sandstone and rich in calcium carbonate (similar to that of Tufo a town in southern Italy which was named for it’s abundance of Limestone), the resulting wine is more perfumed, finer and showing greater balance. Being a rustic vine and of good vigour it has a preference for long pruning leaving a good quantity of buds.

 

Diseases, pests and disorders: It is susceptible to botrytis, especially in the case of rain during its last phase of maturation; however, it has good tolerance to downy and powdery mildew and good resistance to extreme weather conditions.

 

Description:

Growing Tip: Globular, cottony, of whitish green colour with yellowish edges.   

Leaf: Medium dimensions, orbicular, 3-lobed or 5-lobed. Has an open, U-shaped petiolar sinus, superior side sinuses shaped like a closed lyre with overlapped edges, while inferior are like an open lyre but more shallow. The upper surface is hairless, while that underside is furry with tufted hairs.   

Cluster: small-medium, compact, of conical form with a very developed wing that in some cases forms a double bunch.   

Berry: Small dimensions, spherical, with waxy bloom, thin and tender skin, of grey-yellowish colour covered by brownish spots. [1,107g 10/03/2005]

 

Vegetation growth habit:

erect 

Vigour:

medium

Average bunch weight:

very low (80-150 g.)  [245g 10/03/2005]

Average bunches per shoot:

2, rarely 3

 

Growth Stages:

Time of budburst:

early

Time of flowering:

medium

Time of veraison:

medium

Time of harvest:

late

 

Available Clones:

 

-          VCR 5:Click here to see growth stage photosThe vine has medium vigour, with a good and constant yield. This clone has bunch of medium-large dimension, of cylindrical-conical form with a very developed wing that in some cases forms a double bunch. The berry has small size. Good resistance to botrytis.

 

Maturity Results:

 

Vintage 2005

Greco di Tufo

30/01/05

9/02/05

18/02/05

23/02/05

2/03/05

9/03/05

10/03/05

Baumč

8.40

9.30

10.15

11.80

12.60

12.40

12.80

pH

2.83

3.07

3.07

3.01

3.12

3.14

3.24

T.A.

18.83

14.25

12.08

11.78

10.13

9.68

8.85

 

Wine characteristics:

Wine is straw-yellow in colour, fresh, dry, acid, with a remarkable aromatic taste. Can make very aristocratic wines that acquire metallic notes with ageing. Greco can be made with a sparkling wine method to get a dessert wine. The wine made from the grapes of this variety is usually blended with grape of Fiano, Coda di Volpe or Trebbiano in the DOC Cilento or this variety can also used to make a varietal wine.