Biancame

Biancame - also known locally as Bianchello or Greco Bianco - is a historic white grape variety primarily cultivated in Italy’s Marche region. Known for its pale-colored berries, from which it gets its name (“bianca” meaning white), Biancame has deep historical roots dating back centuries before the Roman Empire. In fact, ancient records suggest that the grape was already widely grown by 500 BC, and even the Roman historian Tacitus referenced wines believed to be made from Biancame in his account of the famous Battle of the Metaurus. According to legend, the overindulgence of Carthaginian soldiers in the local wine may have contributed to their defeat.

Biancame’s cultural and historical significance is so strong that in 1969 it became the basis for one of Italy’s earliest DOC wines: Bianchello del Metauro DOC, a designation that highlights the grape’s connection to the northern part of the Marche region, particularly along the Metauro River valley.

Today, Biancame is grown primarily along Italy’s Adriatic coast, with cultivation focused in both the Marche and parts of Emilia-Romagna. Its preferred terrain includes coastal and gently hilly zones, where the grape thrives in limestone-rich soils and benefits from cooling sea breezes that help preserve acidity and aromatic finesse.

Ampelographically, Biancame grapes are medium-sized, round, and white, with thin, delicate skins that are yellowish and often dotted with brown freckles and small specks. The clusters are large, tightly packed, and conical in shape, sometimes winged. The vine produces medium to large pentagonal leaves, typically five-lobed, and has good vigor and adaptability to various soil types.

Biancame is most often vinified on its own but can also be blended with other regional white varieties such as Verdicchio. It produces wines that are light to medium-bodied, crisp, and aromatic. In the glass, Biancame wines are a clear straw yellow with bright reflections. The nose offers delicate aromas of green apple, white peach, and floral hints, often accented by subtle spice and minerality. On the palate, the wines are fresh and balanced, with a slightly acidic profile, a pleasant aromatic finish, and a characteristically gentle bitter aftertaste that adds complexity and elegance.