Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso

Considered the most prized member of the broad Refoschi family, an ancient black-skinned grape native to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Its name comes from the distinctive stem ("peduncolo") that turns red as the grapes ripen — an accumulation of anthocyanins already noted in 19th-century sources and unique among the Refoschi, making it a key identification trait for the variety.

The wider Refoschi family shares a common ancestry with a family of wild vines, and includes close relatives such as Refosco Nostrano (or di Faedis), as well as more distantly related Terrano and Cagnina di Romagna. Medium-large, tri-to-pentalobate, dark green leaves and medium-to-large, fairly compact, pyramidal clusters carry medium, spherical berries with very thick, resistant, deep blue-black skin. Its homeland is Udine, Pordenone and Gorizia provinces, where it anchors several Friulian DOCs (Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli Grave, Friuli Aquileia, Isonzo, Latisana); it has also spread into eastern Veneto's DOCs and IGTs.