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Colorino is a dark grape variety originating from the Tuscany region in Italy. As the name suggests, the main characteristic of these berries is a particularly deep, dark color. They produce medium to full-bodied red wines that surprise with aromas of dark forest berries, cherries, spices, and herbs. It is an ideal choice for those seeking a firm, structured, and authentic Italian wine.
Read moreIn the Tuscany region, this variety historically plays a crucial role, but finding it bottled on its own can sometimes be a challenge. When choosing, it is worth understanding its primary purpose.
In traditional Italian winemaking, Colorino is almost always used in the famous Chianti blends alongside Sangiovese grapes. Since Sangiovese wines are naturally quite pale and feature high acidity, Colorino berries provide the blend with necessary dark color, additional tannin structure, and a jammy texture. However, increasingly more modern winemakers are revealing the true potential of this variety and creating exceptional 100% Colorino wines. These pure drinks are often aged in oak barrels and feature a long, savory finish.
Due to firm tannins and deep structure, Colorino-based wines are made for meat dishes. They pair flawlessly with grilled beef, game (wild boar or venison) stews, tomato sauce pasta, and intense, aged cheeses. It is a wine that demands protein and fat to reveal its best qualities.
Historically, this grape was grown exclusively as a "dyeing" (teinturier type) variety to improve the visual and structural characteristics of other wines. Its tannins can be quite hard, and the acidity somewhat lower than Sangiovese, so creating a balanced single-varietal Colorino wine requires immense winemaking skill.
High-quality, oak-aged 100% Colorino wines boast excellent aging potential. Due to their thick berry skin layer and abundant tannins, they can successfully improve in the bottle for 5–10 years and longer, acquiring aromas of dried plums, leather, and tobacco over time.
