Aleatico di Gradoli
Aleatico di Gradoli is the only liqueur wine produced in the Lazio region, in the area along the north-eastern shore of Lake Bolsena, in the province of Viterbo. Jejgo borders are marked by the cities of Gradoli, Grotte di Castro, San Lorenzo Nuovo and Latera.
The Aleatico strain was brought to Italy in distant times by the Greeks, finding ideal conditions for development initially in Puglia, where to this day it has its significant share in the local wine production. With time, the cultivation of this vine also spread to other regions of the Apennine Peninsula. A distinctive feature of this variety are small bunches and scarlet berries, with a transparent skin covered with profusely waxy coating, giving them a matt effect.
A small area, on which Aleatico di Gradoli is produced, it is known for its captivating landscapes. At the same time, it constitutes a certain limitation from the point of view of wine production. Fact, that the cultivation of this grapevine has not caught on in other areas only confirms, that the soil conditions and the specific microclimate of this area provide an ideal habitat for the development of this variety. The small scale of production makes, that the presence of wine in part of the markets is limited to quantities intended exclusively for connoisseurs.