Piccolo is a red grape variety that can be defined with certainty as native, although there are still some uncertainties about its origins. The cultivation involves a limited area of Piedmont comprising only Verduno, Roddi and La Morra in the province of Cuneo. Not to be confused with the grape Pelaverga, grown primarily in the area of Saluzzo, from which it differs for the smaller berries, as well as for the characteristics of the grape variety, and its agronomic and oenological properties. It was identified thanks to specific studies that led in the late 1990s to the birth of its own cultivar. Its history is partly shrouded in mystery, because for a long time it was believed that this variety was brought to Verduno by Blessed Sebastiano Valfré, a priest from the early 1700s who brought some clusters with him from Saluzzo. In reality, the first news of Pelaverga in Verduno dates back to ancient city statutes drawn up at the end of the 1400s, in which certain "black grapes" are mentioned, clinging to apple trees that served as living aids for growing grapes. For a long time, it was neglected and considered a minor crop, in fact the grapes from a few rows were mainly used in the assemblies. Since the 1970s, though, some local winemakers have recognised the potential of this unique grape variety, giving new impetus to its cultivation.
PELAVERGA PICCOLO GRAPE
Berry colour: black.Productivity: medium-high.
Leaf: medium-large sized, long, five-lobed, often with small lower and developed lobes.
Bunch: medium, elongated conical, with the berries discreetly spaced, small and medium-blue-purple or blue to full maturity.
Ripening: Beginning of October.
Wines: Verduno Pelaverga o Verduno Doc.
