Greco is a white grape variety of ancient origin, traditionally traced back to Greek viticulture which reached southern Italy in pre-Roman times. Its presence is documented on the slopes of Vesuvius as early as the 1st century BC; from this area it spread to Irpinia, where it has found one of its most celebrated expressions in the Greco di Tufo. Today it is grown mainly in Campania, particularly in the provinces of Avellino and Benevento, as well as in the Vesuvius area. The leaf is medium-sized, orbicular, generally three-lobed and sometimes five-lobed, with a smooth upper surface and a slightly web-like underside. The bunch is small or medium-sized, cylindrical or conical, compact and often features a very well-developed wing, so much so that it takes on the appearance of a double bunch. The berry, spheroidal or slightly irregular in shape, has a pruinose, greyish-yellowish skin, with amber hues on the parts exposed to the sun. The wines produced are straw-yellow in colour, sometimes intense, with refined and distinctive aromas, featuring citrus, floral, fruity and mineral notes. On the palate, they express freshness, savouriness, structure and good balance, accompanied by significant ageing potential. In addition to still wine, Greco is also well-suited to sparkling wine production, including bottle-fermented sparkling wine made using the classic method.
