Pallagrello Bianco

Pallagrello Bianco has one of the most dramatic stories in Italian viticulture. In 1775, the celebrated architect Luigi Vanvitelli planted it in the Vigna del Ventaglio vineyard at the Royal Palace of Caserta, establishing it as a grape fit for King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. Its earliest recorded synonym, Pallarelli, dates to that same late 18th-century period, and some historians trace its origins back to ancient Greek colonization of southern Italy, with a possible Roman reference as 'Pilleolata' in the writings of Pliny the Elder.

• Planted at the Royal Palace of Caserta in 1775 for King Ferdinand I
• Possible ancient origins linked to Greek colonization and Roman texts by Pliny the Elder
• The phylloxera epidemic of the mid-19th century and subsequent World Wars drove the variety to near extinction
• Lawyer Peppe Mancini rediscovered the grape in the 1990s in an abandoned vineyard, sparking a revival

Pallagrello Bianco grows in the Province of Caserta in Campania, with key communes including Piedimonte Matese, Caiazzo, Castel Campagnano, Castel di Sasso, Alife, and Liberi. Vineyards sit at 200 to 400 meters above sea level on volcanic soils enriched with detritus and arenaria, the legacy of the extinct Roccamonfina volcano. Clay-calcareous soils are also present across the zone. The climate is temperate continental, with summer heat moderated by sea breezes drifting in from the Tyrrhenian coast.

• Elevations of 200 to 400 meters above sea level
• Volcanic soils with sand, clay, and volcanic debris from the extinct Roccamonfina volcano
• Temperate continental climate tempered by Tyrrhenian coastal breezes
• Clay-calcareous soils are also found throughout the production zone

Pallagrello Bianco is a mid to late ripening variety, typically harvested in mid-September. Its small bunches and small berries have a distinctive fox-tail shape similar to Coda di Volpe, though the two are genetically distinct. The skins are yellow-green in color, and the berries are naturally high in sugar and low in acid, giving the grape high alcohol potential with moderate acidity. Good resistance to botrytis makes it suitable for late harvest wine styles. Winemakers produce both unoaked stainless steel versions that emphasize freshness and fruit, and barrel-fermented styles that add complexity and texture.

• Harvested mid-September; small bunches with yellow-green skinned berries
• Naturally high sugar and low acid, producing wines with high alcohol potential
• Good botrytis resistance makes it suitable for late harvest production
• Made in both stainless steel and barrel-fermented styles

Pallagrello Bianco holds IGT status (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) and was officially designated a recommended variety for Campania by regional decree in 2004. It is also registered in Italy's National Register of Grape Varieties. Multiple alternate names exist for the variety, including Pallagrella Bianca, Pallagrello di Avellino, Piedimonte Bianco, Pallarelli, Pallarella, and Uva Bianca Antica Finaide. A small but dedicated group of producers in Caserta keeps the variety alive today.

• IGT classification; recommended variety for Campania by regional decree in 2004
• Registered in Italy's National Register of Grape Varieties
• Alternate names include Pallagrella Bianca, Piedimonte Bianco, and Uva Bianca Antica Finaide
• Notable producers include Terre del Principe, Cantine Alois, and Il Verro