🍷 Cerasuolo
A dark, cherry-coloured Italian rosé; the best known comes from Abruzzo.
Cerasuolo is the Italian name for a very dark rosé wine. The word comes from the Italian cerasa, 'cherry', and describes its bright cherry colour. The best-known wine of this name is Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo from the Abruzzo region in central Italy.
It is made from the Montepulciano grape, the same variety behind Abruzzo's dense red wines. The juice stays with the skins longer than for an ordinary rosé, so Cerasuolo is deep in colour and flavour. It is dry, with cherry and red berry aromas and lively freshness. It is drunk young, often lightly chilled.
Among rosé wines, Cerasuolo sits between a light rosé and a red. Do not confuse it with Cerasuolo di Vittoria from Sicily: despite the similar name, that is a red wine from other grapes. So when you see 'Cerasuolo' on an Italian wine label, check the region too.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Rosé
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Related to
- 🍇 Montepulciano
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Rosé, 📍 Abruzzo
Frequently asked questions
What is Cerasuolo?
It is a dark, cherry-coloured rosé from Italy. The best known is Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, made from Montepulciano.
Is Cerasuolo a rosé or a red wine?
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is a rosé, though a very deep one. Cerasuolo di Vittoria from Sicily is a red wine.
What grape is Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo made from?
From Montepulciano, the main red grape of Abruzzo.
Similar
🍷 Chiaretto · 🍷 Blush wine · 🍷 Saignée rosé · 🍷 Blended rosé · 🍷 Vin gris · 🍷 Clairet
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.