Apron and Sneakers - Cooking & Traveling in Italy and Beyond

Ruchè is a native black grape indigenous to the area of Castagnole Monferrato in Piedmont which ran the risk of extinction if not for the foresight of the parish priest of the village. It was never given importance oenologically as it is only consumed as table grapes, or used in blending to refine wines because of its aromatic profile, or to produce sweet wine for family consumption. The story of its origin is uncertain but most probably it was imported from Burgundy by monks who planted it near the convent of San Rocco, which has long since been demolished.