Marzemina bianca

Marzemina bianca is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy.

The grape was first mentioned in 1679 when the Italian writer Giacomo Agostinetti described Marzemina bianca growing around the town of Breganze in the province of Vicenza in Veneto.

It was speculated by early ampelographers that the grape may have originated in the Burgundy wine region and found its way to Italy via Germany and Switzerland.

[1] Marzemina bianca was once widely planted throughout the Veneto region but its numbers took a toll when the phylloxera epidemic hit Italy in the late 19th century.

[1] Over the years Marzemina bianca has been known under various synonyms including: Berzemina di Breganze, Champagna, Champagne, Sampagne and Sciampagna.

Garganega, one of the parent varieties of Marzemina bianca.
A vineyard in Breganze where Marzemina bianca is still grown.
Marzemina is a permitted grape variety allowed to be blended with Vespaiola in the passito straw wine of the Breganze DOC known as Torcolato .