Vitis vinifera Timorasso - Grapevine

Vitis vinifera 'Timorasso' is an indigenous Italian grape variety mainly found in the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, and Cuneo in Piedmont. It was close to extinction in the 20th century but has recently experienced a revival in popularity driven by its reputation for high quality potential established by wine experts. With a generous structure and strong minerality, it is sometimes compared to great French white grape varieties. It is a vigorous vine with moderate yields, ripening in mid-September, providing wine grapes that were once also consumed as table grapes.

The wine grape vine (Vitis vinifera) grew wild over 5000 years ago. Numerous hybrids were created to vary colours, flavours, and uses. The 'Timorasso' vine is an authentically Piedmontese white wine grape variety, formerly the most widespread white grape variety in the region, also extending to the provinces of Pavia (Lombardy) in the north and Genoa (Liguria) in the south. Its decline is believed by some to date back to the early 20th century when, following the devastation caused by phylloxera, the vines were replanted with the more productive Cortese grape variety. Others argue that it was the socio-economic changes after the war that led to the abandonment of vineyards that were difficult to cultivate. At the end of the 20th century, a strong renewed interest in the grape variety, rediscovering its qualities, led by young winemakers from Tortona, reversed the trend.

The 'Timorasso' vine is a moderately climbing, vigorous shrub that can easily reach a height or spread of 4-5m if not pruned. Its final shape will depend on the pruning method used. This vine is a frugal sun-loving plant that is not demanding and prefers soil that is both clayey and stony, with a tendency towards limestone, but can be sensitive to prolonged drought. Its long stems cling to their support (trellis, espalier...) with the help of large green and twining tendrils. Its deep green foliage, with serrated edges turns a beautiful gold in autumn. Flowering occurs in May-June depending on the year and region, with small greenish flowers grouped in short and compact pyramidal and cylindrical clusters. It develops medium to large clusters of tight and powdery, conical-pyramidal grapes. The spherical or slightly egg-shaped berries are irregular and have thick, waxy, regular green-yellow skin that turns golden yellow when fully ripe, and a fleshy and juicy pulp. The grapes easily detach from the cluster. The vine is susceptible to botrytis on the clusters and to a lesser extent to millerandage, coulure, and sunburn. In its original environment, it thrives in poor, limestone or marly soils, sometimes in detrital soils, with abundant sunlight to allow the late ripening of the grape variety, but with generally moderate temperatures featuring high daytime temperatures and cool nighttime temperatures, at medium altitudes. This is to preserve the freshness necessary for a white grape variety and good ventilation to combat sensitivity to rot and powdery mildew favoured by humidity.

The grape variety mainly produces dry, still white wines characterised by a deep straw yellow colour, high acidity, and intense secondary and tertiary aromas, confirming its excellent ageing potential. On the palate, it reveals a relatively generous structure, occasionally suggesting oak ageing, although this is often not the case and a strong minerality. Among the most frequently mentioned aromas are honey, hazelnut, lemon, light spices, floral notes, apple, and apricot.

The 'Timorasso' grape is mainly consumed as wine. It can also be used for ornamental purposes, such as covering a pergola or training against a sunny wall. In the past, the grape variety was also used as a table grape. Finally, the grape pomace is sometimes distilled to produce "grappa".