rignolino is one of the great aristocratic wines of Piedmont and the fact that it is made in relatively limited quantity only boosts its value. Its appealing name seems almost certainly to have been derived from "grignole," a term in the local dialect that refers to the abundance of seeds in the Grignolino grapes. However, another etymology has been advanced, according to which the word is derived from the verb "grignare," which in the dialect of Asti means "to laugh."Noted ampelographers like Demaria and Leardi have argued that Grignolino and its numerous subvarieties had other names in ancient times, among them Barbesino, Balestra, Verbesino, Arlandino and Rossetto.
Even if the first official description of Grignolino dates only to the late 18th century, it is quite probable that the variety was known earlier and that its grapes were used as early as the 16th century in making light red "chiaretti" wines. Without doubt, the variety originated in the hills between Asti and Casale, which is still the wine's principal center of production although the vine is now cultivated in other parts of the province of Alessandria.
The wine's production area was once more extensive but the spread of vine-destroying parasites throughout Europe led to a reduction in the cultivation of all varieties but especially of Grignolino. For it is more sensitive to such pests than are other types. Grignolino has had many famous admirers. Among them was Giovanni Lanza, who was prime minister at the time of the unification of Italy and who was also a producer of this refined wine. In addition, King Umberto I preferred it to any other wine on his table.
