Ciliegiolo

Ciliegiolo (Chee-lee-jo-lo)

Ciliegiolo, like Canaiolo Nero, is an indigenous red grape to the Tuscan region.  Unlike Canaiolo Nero though, it is a grape on the rise not only for blending but also for pure varietal bottling showing much promise, especially in the Southern Maremma.  The name derives from the word for cherry in Italian, ciliegi, and when tasting the wine one can immediately see why.  As of recent discovery Ciliegiolo has been discovered to be the parent of Sangiovese, thus giving it an even more interesting story.  Similar to Canaiolo Nero, the grape is intense with its cherry flavors and color in fact, and has a softness to it that can blend well with Sangiovese based wines.