The Aglianico Grape: A historical journey from ancient origins to modern Australian vineyards. Aglianico is one of the oldest known varieties, with a history that traces back to ancient times. It is believed to have been brought to Italy by the Greeks around the 7th century BC, during the time of Greek colonisation. The name “Aglianico” is thought to be a corruption of the word “Hellenic,” referring to its Greek origins.
This grape thrived in the volcanic soils of the southern Italian regions of Campania and Basilicata, where it became renowned for producing robust and age-worthy wines. Throughout the centuries, Aglianico has been celebrated for its deep colour, strong tannins, structure, and high acidity, making it an ideal candidate for long-term cellaring. Notably, it is the primary grape in the esteemed Taurasi and Aglianico del Vulture wines.
The journey of the Aglianico grape to Australia is a relatively recent chapter in its long history. It was introduced to Australian vineyards in the late 20th century, as winemakers sought to diversify their offerings and experiment with lesser-known European varieties. The Australian climate, particularly in the Victorian wine growing regions such as Alpine Valleys, and the King Valley, alongside McLaren Vale in South Australia, have proved to be well-suited for cultivating this ancient grape.
Mark Walpole first released an Aglianico back in 2012, some 13 years ago. Mark sources the fruit from the Alpine Valley, where he grows several hectares of vines of various traditional and alternative grape varieties – all produced under the Fighting Gully Road label.
Fighting Gully Road has roughly two acres (yielding ~two tonnes – vintage dependent) of fruit, noting it’s typically the last grapes off the vines during harvest. A slow-ripener, Aglianico is one of the lesser-known wines in the Fighting Gully Road portfolio, but is showing great excitement among local and international sommeliers and other wine professionals.
Other Australian winemakers have embraced Aglianico for its resilience and ability to produce high-quality wines with the warming conditions nationally. The combination of modern viticulture techniques and the favourable Australian terroir has resulted in Aglianico wines that are both distinctive and reflective of their Italian heritage. Mark likes to hold onto each wine for several years prior to release, hence the current release is the 2019 – some six years bottle age, has it ready for enjoyment now, but the structure and acidity of the wine allows for exceptional cellaring ability. Read some of the most recent vintages and their reviews below:
- 2017 Fighting Gully Road Aglianico, Alpine Valleys VIC
“Ventures down a dark and savoury path, exploring some interesting nooks and crannies. The scent of autumn with forest floor, pine needles, wild mushrooms and prune. With 3 years in bottle, its savoury side is nicely developed with dark berries, chocolate-covered licorice, almond and spicy oak. A hint of bitterness to close is a nice nod to Italy, in keeping with the grape’s heritage.” 93 points – Halliday Wine Companion.
- 2018 Fighting Gully Road Aglianico, Alpine Valleys VIC
“This 2018 Alpine Valleys Aglianico is meaty, savory and dense—texturally, the tannins are woven into every fibre of this wine. There is nowhere the fruit goes that the tannins don’t follow. There is blood plum, kalamata olive, cracked pepper, pastrami and blackberries. Really engaging, the tannins are locked and loaded. At four years of age, it is teetering on the brink of showing development, and that’s ok; the combination of tannin and fruit in the mouth shows that this has miles to go.” 93 points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
- 2019 Fighting Gully Road Aglianico, Alpine Valleys VIC
“Remember the name – pronounced “alli-yan-nico” – because you certainly won’t forget the taste. Each release just gets better and better. A deep dive into a Southern Italian grape big in personality, matching friendliness with solid, straight-back tannin and acid, the grape’s specialty. Black berries, black cherry, dried cranberry, allspice, licorice and earth, dressed in savoury tannins and dry to close, makes for one big leap forward for the grape in this country.” 95 points – Halliday Wine Companion.
Aglianico typically exhibits a range of compelling flavour characteristics, and we’ve compiled the classic aromas that the grape is known for…Darker, often black and/or blue fruit profile leads the aromatics. Aglianico is a rich, fruit-forward grape, often presenting aromatic black cherry, plum, and blackberry notes. There’s also a distinct spiciness to Aglianico, typically offering hints of black pepper, clove, and a light touch of cinnamon. This spiciness adds complexity and depth to the finished wines.
Originating from volcanic soils, Aglianico wines are also known to exhibit a notable earthiness. Presenting flavours reminiscent of leather, tobacco, and a smoky minerality. Furthermore, the grape is known to have strong tannins and high natural acidity. Both provide the wine an excellent aging potential, and a firm, structured palate. Herbaceous undertones like dried oregano, fennel, and thyme, can also be present. Providing a fragrant and enhancing aromatic profile.
Our Fighting Gully Road Aglianico is known for its spice, earthiness and rich fruit-forward nature. The soft herbal notes of fennel, aniseed and liquorice add further depth and complexity to the wines. A great wine to cellar, and when you’re ready, decant for 30+ minutes before you enjoy.
In celebration of Aglianico, Mark has put together a special Aglianico Discovery Pack: Read more.