Ciliegiolo, widely dispersed Italian red grape variety of Tuscan origin named after its supposed cherry-like flavour and colour. It has been declining in extent, although it can make some excellent varietal wines, particularly Sassotondo’s Maremma examples, and can be a usefully soft blending partner for sangiovese, particularly in chianti. Unexpectedly, dna profiling revealed that Ciliegiolo is one of the parents of Sangiovese. Plantings totalled 1,829 ha/4,520 acres in 2010.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
