he decision to give this wine its D.O.C. appellation in 1996 was based on the fact that the great winemaking tradition of Colline Saluzzesi, a hilly land in the northwestern region of Piedmont, ran the risk of extinction because it was entirely based on a very rare grape variety: the Quagliano.Quagliano vines are grown only in a small area by the same name in the province of Cuneo. It embraces the municipalities of Pagno and Piasco as well as some parts of Castiglione Saluzzo, Manta, Verzuolo, Busca, Brondello, Castellar and Saluzzo. Quagliano is a very ancient vine variety that, if grown in a protected position, can produce abundant quantities of very sweet grapes. In the past it was also used as "table grape" - that is, served at the end of a meal.
Besides Quagliano, the Colline Saluzzesi D.O.C. appellation also covers another local variety, the Pelaverga, which can be grown on sunny hillsides. Pelaverga yields a fine wine that is light ruby red in color and has a fruity, at times spicy, aroma reminiscent of cherries and raspberries. Pelaverga is usually dry and well-balanced, but it can also be vinified into a sweet wine with a raspberry flavor.
