Nebbiolo Parentage Unveiled - 29-Jan-2004

Nebbiolo, the Italian grape variety behind Barolo and Barbaresco, is a cousin of Viognier according to 2 scientists. Genetic researchers Dr Anna Schneider from CNR of Turin and Dr José Vouillamoz of UC Davis and Istituto Agrario di San Michele all'Adige, released surprising preliminary findings from their research into Nebbiolo's DNA composition, at a conference in northern Italy at the weekend. Preliminary work suggests a similar genetic relationship between Freisa, a red variety long believed to be native to Piedmont, and Viognier, the aromatic white Rhône grape variety, said Schneider. That means that Viognier and Nebbiolo may ultimately be distant relations.
"We have proven that Nebbiolo is directly related to another indigenous red grape from Piedmont called Freisa,' Dr Schneider said, speaking at the first International Convention on Nebbiolo in Valtellina, north of Milan. Dr José Vouillamoz who spent a year working at the University of California, Davis, in the lab of noted grapevine geneticist Carole Meredith, and Schneider tested DNA samples of Nebbiolo against samples of DNA from more than 1,500 grape cultivars gathered from countries around the world.
Schneider added, "One thousand five hundred different grapes from around the world were tested for genetic relationships, and 30 of 32 indicators tested positive between Freisa and Viognier. While this demonstrates a high possibility of a genetic relationship, further tests are needed in order to confirm that there is a relationship and to what degree."