Mantonico bianco

Mantonico bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety grown in the Calabria wine region of southern Italy. The grape should not be confused with the similarly named Calabrian grape Montonico bianco or with Guardavalle, which is known as Mantonico in the province of Cosenza in Calabria. In the early 21st century, DNA profiling suggested that Mantonico bianco may be one of the parent varieties of the red Calabrian grape Gaglioppo which is also known as Mantonico nero.

Today Mantonico bianco is used to make both dry varietal and sweet passito-style dessert wines under several Calabrian Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT) designations. The grape is also potentially one of the permitted varieties in the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines of Bivongi and Donnici, however, the regulations for those DOCs do not differentiate between Mantonico bianco and Montonico bianco with the later most often being used in those wines.

History and relationship to other grapes

A Mantonico vine growing in Calabria was documented in the 1601 work of the Italian writer Girolamo Marafioti, who grew up in the commune of Polistena in Calabria, then part of the Kingdom of Naples. Ampelographers believe that this is the earliest mention of Mantonico bianco and that the grape is probably a native of the district of Locri in Reggio Calabria.

Montonico bianco

Montonico bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Ampelographers believe that the grape is likely of Greek origins and was transported to southern Italy by ancient Greek settlers. Though the variety has a long history in Calabria, its numbers have been slowly declining with 1100 hectares/2700 acres planted in the region by the end of the 20th century.

Relationship to other varieties

Recent DNA profiling has shown Garganega to be one of the parent varieties of Montonico bianco.

It is not yet clear if the grape is related to red Calabrian wine grape Gaglioppo that is also known as Mantonico/Montonico nero.

DOC wines

Montonico bianco is a permitted grape variety in several Denominazione di origine controllata wines including the Bivongi DOC located on the slopes of Mount Consolino. Here Montonico makes up to 30-50% of the blend along with Greco bianco and Guardavalle with Ansonica and Malvasia bianca permitted to make up an additional 30-50% and other non-aromatic white grape varieties permitted up to 30%. Montonico grapes destined for DOC wine production must be harvested to a yield no greater than 12 tonnes/hectare with the finished wine needing to attain a minimum alcohol level of at least 10.5%.

Bianco

Bianco is a town and comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria, in southern Italy. It is a seaside town and a popular tourist resort. The main attractions are the remainings of an old abbey and the ruins of a Roman house.

See also

References

Bianco (harpist)

Eugene Bianco (March 29, 1927 – May 7, 2007), known professionally as Bianco, was a harpist who recorded for RCA Victor Records.

Discography

With Ruth Brown

References

Bianco (surname)

Bianco, or occasionally Lo Bianco, is a surname of Italian origin, meaning White. Bearers of the name include the following.

References