Aleatico

This ancient, red variety is found mainly in central and southern Italy and was almost forgotten for a long time. The juice of these small, dark berries is wonderfully spicy and is mainly used to produce lusciously sweet and intensified liqueur wines. Aleatico has long been grown in Corsica and Elba, which is how Napoleon became acquainted with the grape and the sweet wine produced from it. According to anecdotes, Aleatico wine was his only consolation during his exile.

It is unclear where the vine originates from. Italians suggest it is indigenous to the Apulia Region; the Greeks favor the theory that the vine found its way from Crete to southern Italy.