RARE GRAPE VARIETAL RESOURCE

Uva Longanesi is a little-known red grape variety from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is one of several wine grapes to have been rediscovered and revived in the region over the past couple of decades, the other notable examples being Uva del Fantini and Centesimino.

Uva Longanesi is thought to have been growing in the Ravenna province for centuries, but was not propagated or documented until the early 20th Century. A single "mother" vine was discovered by Antonio Longanesi, after whom the variety is named, near his home in Bagnacavallo, Ravenna. Longanesi took cuttings from the vine (which was growing naturally, wrapped around the trunk of an old oak tree) and, in the 1950s, his son Aldo planted the world's first Uva Longanesi vineyard.

Uva Longanesi is relatively hardy in the vineyard, resistant to both fungal diseases and frost. Once vinified, it shows off red fruit like cherry and strawberry, with some vanilla and even licorice overtones. Wines made from Uva Longanesi have plenty of tannins.

On December 6, 2000, the variety was officially recognized and added to Italy's Registro Nazionale delle Varieta di Vite (national register of wine grape varieties). There are now roughly 500 acres (200ha) planted in the Ravenna province, and varietal Uva Longanesi wines may be made under the Emilia, Forli, Rubicone and Ravenna IGT titles.

To those in Bagnacavallo, Uva Longanesi is known as "Burson". This rather unflattering pseudonym, which means "Big Bore" in the local slang, was Antonio Longanesi’s nickname.

(Photo and text source: https://www.wine-searcher.com/grape)

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