Uva rara
The Uva rara grape is used in limited quantities together with Croatina, Barbera and Ughetta di Canneto in the L’Inaspettato wine and occasionally in the Nido della Tempesta and in the Buttafuoco Corno del Diavolo. Since the 2017 vintage it is also present in the Ronc8tto wine.
Historical background
Uva rara is a grape variety cultivated for many centuries in the provinces of Novara and Vercelli in Piedmont and in the province of Pavia in Lombardy. Uva rara is the name that in some areas was given to the Bonarda grape adapted to specific geographic areas for many years, and it was considered a relative grape if not the same. This is due to an incorrect evaluation of 1877 by Di Rovasenda, which confused her with Bonarda of Gattinara. The same mistake was made in 1906 by Molon. Today, ampelographers all agreed to believe that the two vines are separate and different.
Vegetative characteristics
Medium-late sprouting, blossom in the middle age, late-middle veraison, maturation of grapes on average or medium-late. The most effective cultivation system is expanded guyot. Vine is very vigorous, even too much in the period involved in flowering, it is subject to a strong flower lost to be kept under control. Uva rara is sensitive to oidium, on average to peronospora, but is resistant to rotten and botrytis and climatic adversities such as hailstorm. It is generally cultivated on various types of soils, preferably clayey, on low hills at approximately 200-300 meters.
Some ampelographic nods
Sprout with a very cottony top, white with slightly pink edges. Opened apical leaflets, yellowish white with very slight bronzed shades, inferiorly very cottony. Basal leaves expanded, golden yellow, inferiorly cottony. Herbaceous branch with curved apical part. Large leaf with long median lobe, five-lobe, often seven or nine lobe the basal leaves, with large and deep breasts; closed petiole breast, with U + V base shape and form of lira. Bunch of variable size but generally of medium size, conical, often truncated, short, very sparse; mid-length peduncle, light yellowish green, sometimes blurred with red as the rachis. Medium large grape, spheroidal, medium-pruinose blue skin; pleasant particular taste.