It is very likely that this vine derives its name from the Latin term albus (white, pale), considered by some as referring to the area of the Alban Hills, believing that this is the area from which the Romans drew the grapes to cultivate them in the lands near the Rubicon river. This vine, moreover, was known since the time of ancient Rome, so much so that Cato, Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger and Varro write about it.
Some scholars associate the name Albana with Elbling, a vine once widespread in the Rhine valley, which would be of Italian origin and would have been spread in Germany by the Romans during the fourth century AD. Pier de 'Crescenzi was however the first to officially describe, in 1303, a vine cultivated in Romagna and called Albana. From 1600 some specific denominations began to appear next to the name Albana, which evidently had the purpose of identifying different varieties of the vine. From the 900th century to the early 30s, more than XNUMX denominations appeared, some of which were absolutely misleading.
Today the most common types of Albana are five: Albana della Bagarona (medium-large cluster), Compadrona (large cluster), Gaiana (small cluster), Serra or La Forcella (elongated cluster), Albana Gentile di Bertinoro (cluster large): the latter type refers to the legend linked to Galla Placidia, daughter of Emperor Theodosius, who, tasting the wine obtained from Albana Gentile in a common chalice, would have exclaimed: "Not so rough you are worthy , or wine, but of berti in gold”, Thus giving the name to the Romagna town.
The grape variety finds its greatest, if not exclusive, diffusion in Emilia Romagna, with particular reference to the hilly area of Ravenna and above all of the Forlì area. It is recommended in the provinces of Modena, Bologna, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, Rimini and authorized in that of Ferrara. It is also present, to a very limited extent, in the provinces of Pesaro, La Spezia and Pisa.
It was registered in the National Register of Grape Varieties in 1970 and entered the disciplinary of the DOCG Albana di Romagna (the first Italian DOCG for a white wine) and the DOC Romagna Albana Spumante, Colli Bolognesi Bianco and Reno Bianco.
The cluster is medium, medium-large or large, usually quite long, cylindrical or cylindrical-conical, simple or winged and sparse, medium sparse or compact depending on the clone. The grape is of medium size, spheroidal, with pruinose, thick, moderately consistent skin; the color can vary from greenish yellow to golden or amber yellow. The harvest usually takes place in the second half of September.
From Albana a wine is obtained in four versions: Secco, Amabile, Dolce and Passito. Il Secco is a wine with a golden color, rather alcoholic, full-bodied, not very fragrant, which tends to be drunk young because it is subject to oxidation. The sweet and sweet versions resume the characteristics of the dry one, naturally with a greater presence of residual sugars.
Usually the most interesting product is that obtained from dried grapes: interesting aromas of jam and candied fruits, full, balanced and pleasantly soft taste. Recently some producers have started making Albana wine by leaving the must to macerate together with the skins: the results seem very interesting.
