Vermentino nero

Vermentino nero is a red Italian wine grape variety that is predominantly grown in province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany. After World War II, the vine was almost lost to extinction until Podere Scurtarola, a producer from Massa, began replanting old vineyards with the grape. By 2000, there were 199 hectares (492 acres) of Vermentino nero growing in Italy with the grape authorized for production in the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines of Candia dei Colli Apuani and Colline Lucchesi.

The grape was long believed to a dark-berried color mutation of Vermentino though some ampelographers believe that the grape may have Spanish origins and be related to Monastrell (known as Mourvèdre in France) or the Aragonese grape Parraleta used in the wines of Somontano. As of 2012, DNA profiling on the grape variety has not been able to confirm or deny either theory.

The exact origins of Vermentino nero is not yet known. There are some ampelographers who believe that the grape is a color mutation of the widely planted white Vermentino grape (known as Pigato in neighboring Liguria and Favorita in Piedmont) and maybe native to the Massa-Carrara region in Tuscany. Other ampelographers believe that the grape may have Spanish origins and could be a relative of Monastrell and Parraleta. So far DNA analysis has not been able to produce evidence to support or cast doubt on either theory.

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Wikipedia