Italian Varietals Are Plentiful In Temecula Wine Country, Part Ii, The Montepulciano Grape

When you think of Italian wine the grapes that popgrape of the famous Falernian wine which was the
into your mind initially could be Sangiovese, PinotRoman equivalent of a First Growth.  Recent
Grigio, Super Tuscan Sangiovese and basket winesresearch has indicated that Aglianico may be related
(Chianti).  Well above 2,000 Italian grape varietalsto the Syrah grape.
identified, there are so many other Italian varietalsRecently Aglianico has been harvested in Australia
that are becoming attainable in the United States andand the United States, particularly in Southern
the Temecula Wine Country is beginning to California.  Aglianico thrives in dry, sunny areas like
recognize and harvest them.that found in Temecula Valley AVA.
 In 1988, Caparone Winery in the Paso Robles
Are you aware of grape varietals such as Aglianico,established the first American Aglianico planting at
Montepulciano, Vermentino, Malvasia Bianca, Arneis ortheir San Marcos Road vineyard.  Caparone created
Primitivo?  Well, they are currently being harvestedthe first American Aglianico wine in 1992 and continue
as well are present in well-known productiveto createAglianico presently.
vineyards in the Temecula Valley AVA.Wines harvested from Aglianico are likely to be full
The newly discovered curiosity in these varietals isbodied with firm tannins and high acidity, making this
partly due to the like territory of Temecula Valley toa wine that has aging potential. The rich flavors of
the regions that these vines thrive in Italy .  Similarthe wine make it appropriate for paring with rich
reasons for the interest in harvesting these varietalsmeats such as lamb and delicious red-sauced pastas. 
is that they previously were not available in theHere in the Temecula Valley, Aglianico is offered for
United States.wine tasting combined as a percentage of the
We will discuss one of these new arrival of Italiandessert port-style wine offered at Masia de Yabar
varietals in Temecula Valley Wine Country.  AglianicoWinery situated at 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco as
(pronounced ah-LY-AH-nee-koe) is a black grapewell as a varietal Estate wine at Cougar Vineyard &
grown in the Campania and Basilicata regions ofWinery situated at 39870 De Portola Road.  The
Italy.  The vine originated in Greece and wastwo of these wineries are located on the De Portola
transported to Compania by Greek settlers. TheWine Trail of Temecula Wine Country.  There is a
name may be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin forwell known vineyard grown on property owned by
Greek Vine. Another origin derives the name Aglianicothe Temecula Olive Oil Company  also planted in
from a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin adjective2006 on the winery property of Cougar Vineyard &
which indicates the whole of southern Italy in theWinery.
Roman age. Earlier in Roman times, it was the main