Rossese Bianco is a white grape variety with a long and complex history, linked above all to Liguria and, in particular, to the Cinque Terre, where it is mentioned in Giorgio Gallesio’s nineteenth-century descriptions. Between the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, it reached the Langhe, finding its own expression in the hilly areas of the Alta Langa and gradually being revived in old Piedmontese vineyards. Today, its cultivation is associated mainly with the municipalities of Sinio and Roddino, whilst the name Rossese Bianco also refers to historically distinct Ligurian populations.
The leaf is of medium size, ranging in shape from wedge-shaped to pentagonal, with a margin that is generally five- or seven-lobed. The bunch is large, broad and conical, often with one, two or three wings, and moderately compact; the berries are small, spherical, with a thick, green-yellow skin that is heavily pruinose. Ripening takes place between late September and early October.
The wine is straw-yellow in colour, sometimes with greenish hues, and has distinct aromas of green apple and citrus, accompanied by floral and mineral notes. On the palate, it is fresh, lively, harmonious and well-structured, with good length and an interesting potential for development. An interesting fact concerns its name: when fully ripe, the skin can take on delicate amber or pinkish hues.