Ormeasco is a red grape grown in the Liguria region of northern Italy since the Fourteenth Century. Ormeoasco di Pornassio is an old red stem variety of Dolcetto that is thought to have been first imported from Piemonte by the Saracens (Middle Eastern Conquerors) in 1000 AD, to the neighboring Ormea area (a village located in the Ligurian Alps).
In 1303, the Marchese di Clavesana ordered the podestà of Pornassio to start growing the Dolcetto vine (of Piemontese origin) in 1303. The Marchese had realised that this was the only vine which could grow at that altitude (600 to 800 meters above sea level). Its name comes from Ormea, a Piemontese town which was in the heart of the marquisate. The town had also been a Saracen base and it has been suggested that Saracen raids helped the importation of this vine from the Alba district (in Piedmont) to Liguria.
Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC was recognized in September 2003. Ormeasco di Pornassio is different in respect to the Piemontese Dolcetto. Ormeasco wine has a more intense floral bouquet and a brighter color than Dolcetto from Piemonte but preserves the pleasant dark chocolate like bitterness found in Piemontese Dolcetto.
The percentage of other grapes used in the production of Ormeasco does not exceed 5% (just like Rossese). Ormeasco's color is deep red with purple tints when new, and deep ruby red with burgundy red tints when aged. When the wine is new, its perfume is characterised by a scent of ripe cherry, while it gets a scent of blueberry and violet when aged. Once ageing is complete, a fragrance of wooded resins and fresh chestnut wood prevails. Its flavour is warm, delicate to the palate. The wine should be served at 16°-17° C. when new and at 18°-19° C. when aged. Ormeasco goes well with agnolotti and meat sauce, stewed rabbit, snails, game, polenta, pork stew, and cheese
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