When I say pecorino is the first thing that comes to your mind wine? Most likely you’ve heard more about pecorino cheese vs. Pecorino wines. The Pecorino grape is an ancient grape that has been found in documentation since the 2nd century BC and is believed to have been brought here by the Greeks. It once faced extinction due to it’s finicky nature and low yields and was not favored over other grapes that were easier to produce at higher yields. It was revived in the 80’s thanks to Guido Cocci Grifoni whom brought Pecorino back to life and today is one of the great white grapes of central eastern Italy.
The Grape ~ Pecorino
Pecorino is mostly associated with the Abruzzo and Marche regions of central Italy, but you can also find this grape produced in other regions including Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria. It’s a grape that favors higher altitudes with cool conditions including sun and fluctuating temperatures.
Pecorino comes from the Italian word pecora, translating to sheep. It is believed that this grape was named after the sheep that grazed in the vineyards of where these grapes were produced in what is known as the transumanza, when the shepherds were herding the sheep and migrating them south to Puglia. Along the way the sheep munched on these fine grapes as a snack. It’s even been said that due to the consumption of the grapes the shepherds would pay the farmers in pecorino cheese, hence the name. Whatever story
This Article was originally published on Vino Travels Italy
