Aleatico

Aleatico is a red grape variety grown in small quantities in central Italy, mainly used in the production of dry red and rosé wines, but is best known for its sweet dessert wine, made by air-drying the grapes before vinification. These wines are lusciously sweet with floral aromas, and flavors of spice and red fruit, particularly cherries. The variety is closely related to Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, Lacrima and Sangiovese. It is native to Tuscany and is also grown in regions like Lazio, Marche and Puglia. The most famous expression of Aleatico comes from the island of Elba, where it makes Elba Aleatico Passito wines, classified as DOCG. The variety is also found in other countries like France, Australia, the U.S, Chile, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and is known as Red Moscatel in Chile.