Today, this red wine grape variety is mostly found in the region of Calabria, southern Italy where it is grown more widely than any other of its bianco sibling.

The single variety of Greco Nero wine is considered as very rare in nature since this variety of red wine grape is mostly blended with another grape variety called Gaglioppo that together produce a number of DOC wines of Calabria.

Despite of all its appearances, the name Greco of this red wine grape variety has not been derived from motherland Greece as according to the experts, but from the use of the word throughout the Middle Ages in order to describe the age-worthy wines that are high as to the content of alcohol and sugar.

The tastes as well as wine styles of the wines prepared out of this red wine grape have changed over the centuries and they have retained different kinds of taste, styles as well as properties.

Today, this variety of red wine grape is mainly concerned with the production of a handful of the Calabria DOCs. Greco Nero produces the DOCs such as Campidano di Terralba, Lamezia Melissa, Donnici, Bivongi as well as Pollino.

All these DOCs require in them the inclusion of the proportion of Greco Nero that is to be ranged from 5-50 percent respectively.

As already stated, the wines produced out of this red wine grape variety are mostly blended with Gaglioppo. These wines are mostly characterized by the different flavours of cherry, black fruit and plum.

The grape variety of Greco Nero is very much prone to fungal diseases as well as adverse climatic conditions. Today, under the very lower classification of the IGT; only a handful of the Greco Nero single variety wines are produced in the world.

These IGT wines are smooth and extensively fruity along with the notes of cinnamon and clove which eventually complete this whole arrangement.

The regions where the production of this red wine grape variety is found in abundance are the areas of Calabira, Sardinia, Silica as well as Campania.

Origin of the Greco Nero grapes

This variety of red wine grape is said to have an origin of Greece. This grape variety is considered a part of the large family of all the Greek grape varieties.

The origin and distribution of this red wine grape variety are, however very certain. This grape variety is mostly considered to be introduced to the world by the Hellenic colonies.

Here it was introduced by the founders of Magna Graecia. According to a number of experts; the history of this grape variety is still very much uncertain in nature.

However, it is considered that this red wine grape variety soon found its production in the Calabria region where it was mostly found in the provinces of Crotone and Locri (Catanzaro).

This grape variety was also confused with the grape variety of the black Aleatico and Verdicchio during the time of its origin.

Wines with Greco Nero grapes

Characteristics of Greco Nero Wines

The vines of this red wine grape variety are wedged as to their shape. They are lobed in nature. The clusters of this red wine grape variety are medium as to their size and are conical in terms of their shape.

The size of the berries of this red wine grape variety is small to medium. The skin is relatively waxy. The colour of these berries is mostly dark blue and black.

The average production of this red wine grape variety mostly prefers less fertile soil and warmer climates. The wines produced out of this red wine grape variety are considered as very tasteful and flavoursome.

These wines are mostly characterized by the flavours of black fruit, cherry as well as plum. There are also some fruity notes along with a few notes of cinnamon.

Food pairing with Greco Nero wine

All the wines produced out of this red wine grape variety are best paired with the food items such as Rogan Josh, Ratatouille as well as spaghetti Bolognese.

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