Canaiolo

Also known as Canaiolo Nero, Canaiolo Romano, Uva Canina.

Canaiolo (Canaiolo Nero) is a traditional central-Italian red grape best known as a historic blending partner of Sangiovese in Chianti and other Tuscan reds, but it is also long established in Lazio and Umbria. Once more widely planted than it is today, it has seen renewed interest both as a softening blender and as a varietal.

It gives medium-bodied reds with soft tannins, moderate acidity and red-fruit and floral character, traditionally used to round out the firmer Sangiovese. In Lazio it appears among the permitted grapes of umbrella denominations such as Colli Etruschi Viterbesi.