Brustiano

Brustiano bianco is a white grape variety from Corsica, once thought extinct until DNA testing identified it as the same variety as Licronaxu bianco from Sardinia. The grape is known for its high yield potential and is typically blended with other varieties such as Vermentino, Biancu Gentile, and Scimiscià. It produces wines that are straw-yellow with citrus, peach, and pear aromas, often accompanied by subtle notes of grass and hay.

Brustiano bianco wines are pale yellow with greenish hues. Aromatically, they show citrus fruits, peach, apple, pear, and exotic fruits, with additional hints of fresh grass, hay, and caramelized notes. On the palate, the wine is light and slightly neutral, lacking in body and vivacity.

Native to Corsica, Brustiano bianco is historically associated with the Sartène region. It is often confused with Vermentino and other Mediterranean varieties. The grape is also found in Sardinia under the name Licronaxu bianco. While it is a late-ripening variety, it is susceptible to powdery mildew and requires careful management to prevent overproduction.

Despite historical confusion with other varieties, Brustiano bianco's reintroduction to Corsica has revived interest in this high-yielding grape, especially for blending purposes in regional wines.