Bianco di Alessano

Bianco di Alessano is a white grape variety native to Puglia, southern Italy, particularly cultivated in the province of Taranto. Though it is considered a traditional Apulian grape, the earliest documented references to its cultivation date back only to the late 19th century. Since then, it has often been used in blends - most commonly with Verdeca, another native white grape from the same region.

Over time, Bianco di Alessano gradually lost ground to Verdeca, which is more fertile, more productive, and imparts a distinctive greenish hue to the wine. In contrast, Bianco di Alessano tends to produce wines with a much paler straw-yellow colour, making it less visually striking in the glass but still appreciated for its freshness and balance.

The Bianco di Alessano grape is medium-sized, spherical, and white-skinned, with a thick, waxy, yellow-hued skin. The clusters are medium to large, cylindrical-conical, sometimes winged, and generally compact. The leaves are medium-large, orbicular, and well-suited to the vine's typical growth patterns.

The vine thrives in medium-textured, moderately deep soils and prefers training systems with medium canopy expansion and rich pruning. It shows medium vigour and offers an abundant and regular yield, making it a reliable variety for growers in the region.

When vinified, Bianco di Alessano produces simple, straw-yellow coloured wines, light in body and crisp in profile. It is most commonly used in blended white wines, especially with Verdeca, adding freshness and balance without overpowering aromatics or colour.