I have been writing a dictionary of sorts on Alta Cucina’s website of Italian indigenous grape varieties. It is very slow going because there are more than 3000. In fact, no one know exactly how many there are. On the site, I try to write about the most important ones either because they are part of a designated area such as a DOC or a DOCG or because they have some particularity which just must be mentioned (ancient grapes).

My latest installment is this article on Bianco d’Alessano. Bianco d’Alessano that grows in the Valle d’Itria which extends from the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. Traditionally it has been blended with the Verdeca grape. Bianco d’Alessano is used in the wines in Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Ostuni. and Lizzano Three producers of interest are Borgo Canale, the Cantina Sociale Coop. del Locorotondo and I Pastini.

A few other grapes that I should mention are Bervedino Bianco which basically only grows near the city of Piacenza This white grape variety is usually blended with other grapes to make local wines in the area of the Val’Arda under the Colli Piacentini designation.

Bianchetta Trevigiana which grows in the Veneto and in the Allto Adige is an ancient variety first mentioned in 1500. The name is somewhat generic for white grapes and has been used to describe a wide variety. Bianchetta Trevigiana is permitted in a few DOCs in the Veneto, It too is a white blending grape and in the past was used to make Vermouth. Only 13 more “b” grapes to go….

This weekend I confess I will be drinking some South African wine as well as a few others.

Buona Visione. I love the World Cup!!