FAMOSO

This vine is mentioned by De Bosis F. in the Ampelographic Bulletins of the Province in 1879 as one of the grapes grown in the area of Cesena and it is said to be different from the Famoso from Pesaro, which on the other hand is the same as the Famoso from Rimini. This vine is mainly to be found still today in the old rows in the area of Valconca and in the Marche neighbourhood. I found some samples of this vine, which was still unknown to me, fifteen years ago in an old row in the area of Montespino (commune of Mondaino). The old and suspicious owner of the vineyards whom I asked the name of this grape answered me:" How does it come that you don't know the Famoso (literally translated, it means "famous")?!". At once, I thought he was pulling my leg but then I understood that he had just mentioned me the name of that vine. In the Department of Clonal Selection and Variety Preservation of the University of Bologna (based in Sant'Aquilina of Rimini at the Agriculture Centre of Enaip) there are many clones of this variety, which were wrongly files as Cargarello. From an agronomical point of view, it is a vigorous, rustic vine with a medium productivity and not particularly sensitive to the vineyard pathology. I had the chance to taste some wines produced some years ago on a reduced scale by the Experimental Cooperative based in Tebano and the wine obtained out of the Famoso is interesting with qualitative features, which are superior to the good Trebbiano wines.