The red grape variety originates from Greece. Synonyms are Aleatiko, Liatico, Liatis, Mavroliatis and Stafili Tu Louliou. It is believed that the variety (among many others) was used to produce the famous Malvasia wines, which were shipped or exported from the historic Greek port of Monemvasia as early as the 13th century. It should not be confused with the Italian variety Aleatico, as well as the no longer cultivated Mavrodiates, Mavroliatis and Mayrodiates, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities. According to DNA analyses conducted in 2011, there is a parent-offspring relationship with the Korinthiaki variety. The long-held assumption that this is a seedless mutation of Liatiko has thus been disproved.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien