Vermentino nero

Vermentino nero is a red Italian wine grape variety that is predominantly grown in province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany.

After World War II, the vine was almost lost to extinction until Podere Scurtarola, a producer from Massa, began replanting old vineyards with the grape.

By 2000, there were 199 hectares (492 acres) of Vermentino nero growing in Italy with the grape authorized for production in the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines of Candia dei Colli Apuani and Colline Lucchesi.

[1] Like many Italian varieties, plantings of Vermentino nero sharply declined during the early 20th century as the conflicts of the era took its toll on viticulture throughout the country.

By the end of World War II, Vermentino nero was on the verge of extinction until a Massa wine producer, Podere Scurtarola, began cultivating old vineyards with the variety (much the same way that the estate helped revive Barsaglina).

A Tuscan IGT wine made from Vermentino nero.
It is not yet known if Vermentino nero is a dark-berried color mutation of Vermentino (pictured) .
Most plantings of Vermentino nero are found in the northwestern Tuscan provinces of Massa-Carrara and Lucca.