‘Nebbiolo di Gubbio’ and its fellows: a time box of Piedmontese grape varieties in the region of Umbria (central Italy)

In the Gubbio area (Umbria region, central Italy) the cultivation of 'Nebbiolo' has been attested since the end of the 19th century and attributed to the import of cuttings from Piedmont (northwestern Italy). Morphological tests carried out in three old vineyards in Gubbio confirmed that this ‘Nebbiolo’ is in fact ‘Dolcetto’, another important cultivar from Piedmont. Plants of other Piedmontese and Umbrian varieties, often rare or at risk of extinction, were identified in the inspected old vineyards, giving evidence of the poly-varietal composition of the ancient plantings. Seven genotypes not yet inventoried or described were also discovered.