The red grape variety originates from Italy (Sicily).

The presumably very old vine was already mentioned in a document by the Italian botanist Francesco Cupani (1657-1710) in 1696. He named three varieties "la vranca", "l'imperiale (or di Napoli)" and "la nigra". This was repeated in 1735 by the Sicilian botanist Francesco Nicosia: "There are three insolias, two white and one black. The black one has a large, black, sweet fruit which, although hard in the mouth, dissolves".
According to DNA analyses carried out in 2014 (De Lorenzis), Inzolia Nera originates from a presumably natural cross between Sangiovese x unknown parent variety. The white variety Inzolia is not a colour mutation or vice versa (both ex Wine Grapes). Confusingly, however, the VIVC catalogue lists a variety Insolia Nera with the synonyms Anzonica Nera, Insolia Niura, Inzolia Nera and Inzolia Nero of unknown parentage.
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