Rossese Bianco
Budburst: April
Flowering: June
Veraison (color change): August
Ripening: August/September
Harvest: September
Pruning system: Guyot or mixed system with a single cane
Rossese Bianco is an Italian white grape variety dating back to the 15th century. It is mainly grown in the Liguria region, where it has been cultivated for centuries, but it is also grown in Piedmont. The name Rossese is derived from its red sibling, as the grapes take on an almost dark pink color when ripe.
In terms of viticulture, Rossese Bianco grapes have a fairly long growing season and ripen late; usually around mid-September to early October, depending on the climate and the vintage. They are medium-sized with a thick skin and are highly aromatic, with notes of honeycomb and apricot blossom.
The vines tend to bloom in late May or early June, making it one of the latest-flowering varieties among Italian white wines. This delay gives them more time to build sugars while maintaining their acidity at harvest. Due to the delicate nature of the grape, harvesting is done by hand.
In general, Rossese Bianco is considered an excellent variety for producing high-quality dry white wines with complex aromas such as acacia flowers, nectarine juice, yellow apples, and minerals like chalk dust—all well-balanced with great freshness thanks to the naturally high acidity at the ripening stage (harvest).
