As early as the Roman polymath Pliny the Elder (23-79) spoke of a "Vinum trebulanum" from a place called Trebulanis in Campania. And Petrus de Crescentiis (1230-1320) described Trebbiano as a noble, long-lasting wine in 1303. But actually, it is wrong to speak of a grape variety. In 2001, the result of a study was published. According to DNA analyses, there are hardly any relations between the many Trebbiano varieties. So, it would be wrong to speak of a grape variety family (the same phenomenon applies to the four name groups Lambrusco, Malvasia, Muscatel, and Vernaccia). However, there are similarities regarding the whitish-yellow berry color, grape size, frost hardiness, as well as high yield. Some of them are also quite similar in taste - rather weak in extract with low alcohol content, but strong acidity. That is why they are also used for distillation.
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