What is "aglianico"

Aglianico (pronounced , roughly "ahl-YAH-nee-koe") is a black grape grown in the southern regions of Italy, mostly Basilicata and Campania.

The vine originated in Greece and was brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of vitis hellenica, Latin for "Greek vine." Another etymology posits a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin name for the whole of southern Italy in the time of ancient Rome. During this period, it was the principal grape of the famous Falernian wine, the Roman equivalent of a first-growth wine today.

Oenologist Denis Dubourdieu has said "Aglianico is probably the grape with the longest consumer history of all."