Rebo is a black grape variety developed in Trentino as part of a cross-breeding programme led by Rebo Rigotti at the San Michele all’Adige Experimental Station. Identified as ‘Incrocio Rigotti 107-3’, it is a cross between Merlot and Teroldego, from which it inherits balance, structure and colour intensity; it was entered in the National Register of Wine Grape Varieties in 1978. The leaf is medium-sized, pentagonal, three- or five-lobed, with a slightly downy underside and a generally open petiole sinus. The bunch is medium to large, conical, winged and moderately compact, whilst the berry is medium-sized, spheroidal, with a pruinose, firm skin and a blue-black colour; the flesh has a neutral flavour. Ripening is medium-late and the vine shows good vigour, adapting well to warm-temperate climates and medium-textured soils, including those that are slightly calcareous. It is mainly grown in Trentino, from the Valle dei Laghi to the Vallagarina and the hills around San Michele all’Adige, with some also found in the Lake Garda area and in Valtènesi. The wine has an intense ruby-red colour, sometimes enlivened by violet hues, with aromas of wild berries, blackberries, undergrowth and delicate floral or herbaceous notes. On the palate, it is warm, full-bodied and harmonious, supported by soft tannins and a good level of polyphenols. It is at its best when young, but can age favourably for a moderate period in the bottle.
