| Vespaiola | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 Vespaiola grapes hung from the ceiling in a drying room to make apassito style wine | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Seelist of synonyms |
| Origin | Italy |
| VIVC number | 13016 |
Vespaiola is a whiteItalian winegrape variety planted primarily in theVeneto region ofnortheastern Italy, where it is often dried to producepassito styledessert wines. Along withFriulano, Vespaiola is an important component in theDenominazione di origine controllata (DOC) white wine ofBreganze produced in theprovince of Vicenza.[1]
Vespaiola grapesripen to highsugar levels and are used to producesweet wines with a characteristic golden hue. In fact, the grapes of Vespaiola get so concentrated with sugars that the name Vespaiola comes fromVespa, in reference to wasps that are attracted to the sugary aromas in vineyards.[2][3]
Despite its similar-sounding name, Vespaiola should not be confused with red Italian wine grape,Vespolina, which is grown in thePiedmont andLombardy regions.[1]
TheBreganze DOC, located in the foothills of theAlps, contains a significant number of plantings of Vespaiola where the grape can be included in the generic Breganze blend or produced in avarietal wine. To be included in the DOC wine, the grapes must beharvested up to a maximumyield 14tonnes/hectare (13 tonnes for the varietal) with the finished winefermented to a minimumalcohol level of 11% (11.5% for the varietal).[4]
For the Breganze white blend, up to 15% Vespaiola is permitted to blended primarily with Friulano withPinot bianco,Pinot grigio,Riesling Italico andSauvignon blanc also potentially included in the blend. The varietal wine Vespaiola must be made entirely of the single variety, harvested to more limited yields and produced with a higher alcohol level. Asuperiore style is also permitted if the wine achieves at least a 12% alcohol level.[4] When Vespaiola is used to produce a dessert style wine from partially dried grapes (apassito) it maybe labeled asTorcolato.[5]
The following is a list of DOC wines, beyond Breganze, that include Vespaiola as a permitted grape variety, along with other grapes that may be included in the blend under varying percentages that are regulated under the DOC label.[4]
The nameVespaiola is derived from theLatinvespa and refers to the wasps that are attracted to the high sugar content in the grapes as they ripen late into thegrowing season.[6] The wasps' presence can be considered aviticultural hazard due to not only their propensity to damage the grapes in order to get to the sweet pulp inside, but also the danger they may cause to vineyard workers in the area.[7]
Invintages where the climate conditions are favorable, the grapes maybe left on the vine todesiccate and further concentrate the sugars well into January.[6] They could also beharvested earlier and left to dry inside special drying rooms where they are may be hung from the ceilings or spread out on mats to dry.[5]
Even with the long ripening periods and high sugar concentrations, the Vespaiola grape can still maintain a relatively high level ofacidity that can help balance the sweetness in the resulting wines. Afterfermentation, some producers willage the wines inoak barrels.[6]
Thepassito styles of Vespaiola are characterized by a golden color witharomas of apricots, honeysuckles and spice that can be a byproduct of aging in oak. The naturally high acidity of the grapes can help balance the high sugar content producing what wine expertOz Clarke describes as"one of Italy's finest sweet wines."[6] In recent years, producers in Breganze have experimented with producingSauternes-style wine from Vespaiola, Friulano and other white grapes that have been infected withBotrytis cinerea.[5]
While Vespaiola is often used to produce sweet dessert wines, it can also be fermented to dryness where it usually produces alight-bodied wines with high acidity and very little of the aroma notes that tend to characterize the grape's sweeter incarnations.[6]
Over the years Vespaiola and its wines have been known under varioussynonyms including Bresparola, Bresparola Bianca, Orisi bianca, Uva Vespera, Vespaia, Vespaiolo, Vespajola, Vespajuola Di Bassano, Vesparola, and Vespera.[8]