Picolit
A historic Italian grape known for sweet passito wines.
Picolit is a white Italian wine grape grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy, permitted in the DOCG wines of Colli Orientali del Friuli. It is most commonly associated with sweet dessert wines, often made in the passito style. The grape gained a worldwide reputation in the 18th century, appearing in royal courts from Great Britain to the Russian Empire, but its extremely small yields have made it economically difficult to grow.
Quick Facts
- Species
- Vitis vinifera
- Also called
- see list of synonyms
- Origin
- Italy
- Regions
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Notable wines
- Colli Orientali del Friuli
Facts from the source article.
History
Picolit's history is hazy before the 1700s, when Count Fabio Asquini made it a star. He produced over 100,000 bottles for royal courts across Europe and the Vatican, leaving detailed notes on how to coax the best from the finicky vine. But the grape's difficulty to grow caused plantings to plummet. In the 1900s, the Perusini family stepped in, pouring resources into developing easier-to-cultivate clones that kept Picolit's prized traits. A 1960s and 1970s craze briefly lifted it to cult status, but it's the Perusinis' work that saved the grape from vanishing. Its fame has also spawned a shady side: some producers illegally stretch supplies by blending Picolit with lesser Verduzzo.
Wine styles
Picolit grapes have a natural balance of sugar and acidity, making them ideal for dessert wines. Winemakers produce both late harvest and passito styles. For passito, the grapes are typically picked around mid-October and then dried into raisins on straw mats before pressing. Late harvest versions are gathered a few weeks later, right before the grapes raisin on the vine. After fermentation, the wine often ages in oak barrels. It is enjoyed after dinner or as a vino da meditazione, an apéritif meant to be sipped alone. Picolit wines usually feature soft floral scents along with peach and apricot flavors.
Synonyms
Picolit is also known under the synonyms Balafan, Balafant, Blaustengler, Blaustingl Weiss, Kel'ner, Peccoleto Bianco, Piccolet, Piccoletta, Piccolit, Piccoliti Bianco, Piccolito, Piccolito Bianco, Piccolito del Friuli, Piccolitt, Piccolitto, Piccolitto Friulano, Picoleto Bianco, Piculit, Pikolit, Pikolit Weiss, Piros Keknyelü, Ranful Weiss, Szabo Istvan, Szod Bajor, Uva del Friuli, Weisser Blaustingl, Weisser Ranful, and Wisellertraube Weiss. None of these is present in Friuli and Italy, except 'Picolit', which is the only guaranteed and protected name.
More in White Wine Grape Varieties from Italy
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