The red grape variety originates from Italy. Synonyms are Moscatellina, Rochè, Romitagi, Rouchet and Rouché. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2020, it comes from a presumably natural cross between Malvasia Aromatica di Parma x Croatina. According to one hypothesis, it was supposedly introduced to Piedmont from Burgundy in France in the 18th century, but neither historical nor genetic traces point to this. The early to medium ripening vine is susceptible to powdery mildew. It produces spicy, tannin-rich red wines with a violet-ruby colour and floral aromas of violets and roses. In the 1970s, the variety, which was threatened with extinction, was revived. It is mainly cultivated in the province of Asti, where it even achieved DOCG honours in 2011 in Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. There are also other stocks in the province of Alessandria. In 2016, 100 hectares of vines were reported with a falling trend (Kym Anderson).
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden