The red grape variety comes from Italy. Synonyms are Oseleta Nera, Oselina and Oseletta. The name is a corruption of "uccelli" (birds) and refers to the fact that the sweet berries are eaten by birds. According to one hypothesis, it was domesticated by a wild vine, but there is no proof (yet). And according to a second hypothesis, which is also unproven, it could be identical to the bird grape formerly grown in Styria (Austria). According to DNA analyses carried out in 2003, there is a genetic relationship with the Garganega variety. The medium-ripening, rather low-yielding vine is susceptible to botrytis. It produces colourful, tannin-rich red wines with aromas of herbs and cinnamon. The variety, which was almost extinct due to the phylloxera catastrophe, was reactivated in the small community of Pigozzo in the province of Verona in Veneto in the 1970s. Since 2002 it has been officially registered again and recommended in the Valpolicella area. The area under cultivation in 2010 was 15 hectares (statistics Kym Anderson).