Brugnola was long thought to be a local synonym used in the Valtellina region for the red Emilia-Romagna grape, Fortana. Even as recently as the 2000 census, plantings of Brugnola in Lombardy were officially counted as part of Fortana's 1,109 hectares (2,740 acres) planted throughout Italy. In the early 21st century, DNA analysis revealed that Brugnola and Fortana were distinct varieties but that Brugnola shared a close parent-offspring relationship with the Piemontese wine grape Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavennasca.[1]
While Brugnola was still officially considered only a synonym of Fortana in the 2000 Italian census, nearly all of the plantings of Brugnola in the Valtellina region are believed to be actual Brugnola plantings. The grape is a permitted blending variety in several of the red wines of Valtellina, most notably the DOCG wines of Valtellina Superiore-Grumello. Here is it blended with both Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) as well as Rossola nera.[1]
^ abcdeJ. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 138 & 363 Allen Lane 2012 ISBN978-1-846-14446-2
^Ian D'Agata Native Wine Grapes of Italy, pg 476 University of California Press 2014 ISBN9780520272262