Avarengo is an ancient black-berried grape variety from Piedmont, historically associated with the Pinerolo area and the Chisone and Germanasca valleys. The earliest ampelographic records date back to the nineteenth century, when the variety was grown alongside other local grapes and used to produce the region’s traditional wines. The name is generally thought to derive from the term ‘avaro’, referring to the vine’s naturally low yield, a characteristic that has defined its history and reinforced its identity.
From an ampelographic perspective, it has small to medium-sized, pentagonal leaves that are generally five-lobed; the bunch is of medium size, compact, conical or pyramidal in shape, and has one or two wings. The berries, which are spherical and medium-sized, have a thick, pruinose skin that is blue-black in colour. Its cultivation remains concentrated mainly in the Pinerolo area, with a historical presence also in other parts of Piedmont, where it may go by local names.
When vinified as a single-varietal wine, it produces a rather bright ruby-red wine with a delicate profile, featuring notes of red fruit, cherry, violet and macerated flowers. On the palate, it is dry, fresh, refined and lightly structured, with well-balanced tannins and good harmony. It expresses its youthful fragrance at its best, whilst also showing a pleasant evolution over the course of a few years. An interesting fact is its use in the Pinerolese Ramìe, where, together with other Alpine Piedmontese varieties, it contributes to the wine’s complexity and terroir character.
