Oseleta is a native black grape variety from the Veneto region, associated primarily with Valpolicella, the Verona area and the Lessini Mountains. Of ancient origin, it is probably the result of the domestication of local populations of wild grapevines; after a long period of obscurity, it was rediscovered in the 1970s and admitted to the National Register of Vine Varieties in 2000. The name likely refers to birds’ fondness for its small, sweet berries. From an ampelographic point of view, it has small, pentagonal, five-lobed leaves; the bunch is small, compact, cylindrical-pyramidal, sometimes with a wing, whilst the berry is medium-sized, obovoid, with a thick, firm skin and an intense blue-black colour. Cultivation is concentrated in the hills of the province of Verona, with the variety also found in neighbouring areas of Veneto and Trentino. When vinified, it produces wines of an intense ruby-red colour, often deep and rich in colouring compounds, with fruity aromas of dark fruits and spicy undertones. On the palate, it displays structure, savouriness and a vigorous tannic texture, underpinned by good freshness. Thanks to these characteristics, it enriches the Valpolicella blends and is particularly suited to drying, a quality that makes it ideal for the production of long-ageing wines, including Amarone and Recioto.
