{"id":7688,"date":"2025-12-08T09:33:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T08:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinolove.club\/?p=7688"},"modified":"2025-12-15T09:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T08:52:43","slug":"rock-n-rolle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinolove.club\/fr\/rock-n-rolle\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock-n-ROLLE: The Bright, Sunny Grape With a Rock-Star Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rolle<\/strong> may not be the loudest name in the wine world, but once you taste it, this Mediterranean gem plays straight to the heart<\/strong>. Known in many places as Vermentino<\/strong>, the grape thrives in sun-drenched, windswept terroirs where sea breezes, rocky soils<\/strong> and centuries of local tradition shape its bright, aromatic <\/strong>personality. In this article, we\u2019ll dive into the fascinating landscapes behind Rolle\u2019s finest expressions \u2014 from the dramatic hills of Bellet overlooking Nice<\/strong> to the rugged vineyards of Corsica<\/strong> \u2014 and discover why this white wine is quickly becoming a favourite among curious wine lovers. Get ready to turn up the volume on a grape that truly rocks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ORIGIN of ROLLE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rolle is believed to have appeared in Corsica<\/strong> in the 13th or 14th century. However, the first written mention of it was found in Piedmont and dates back to the 17th century. Most likely, this variety came to Piedmont from Liguria. In Piedmont<\/strong>, it was called Favorito, meaning it was a favourite among table grape varieties.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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NAMES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The indigenous name of the variety is Vermentino<\/strong>. It’s called that in Liguria, Sardinia, and Corsica. But in mainland France, the name Rolle is used. Working primarily with French wines, the name Rolle<\/strong> is more familiar to me, so I’ll use it more often to avoid confusion. But the name Vermentino is still worth remembering; it’s very common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Piedmont, you might encounter the same Rolle or Vermentino under the name Favorita<\/strong>. In northern Corsica, it’s known as Malvasia da Corsica<\/strong>. In the eastern French Pyrenees, it’s Malvasia da Douro. Pigato<\/strong> is in Liguria. Vermentina is in the Corsican dialect. But the essence remains the same, despite all these names! It’s still the same aromatic Rolle! By the way, if you come across Rollo da Cinquaterra, know that it’s not the same as Rolle, but a completely different variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name Vermentino itself may derive from the word “vermene,” which was used in Piedmont to describe the slender young shoots of grapevines. However, in Piedmont, Vermentino was also called “fermentino,” meaning “one that ferments,” perhaps referring to the effervescence of the young wines due to residual sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TERROIR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rolle, or Vermentino, prefers to be close to the Mediterranean. I can certainly understand this. The southern coast of France, the Ligurian coast of Italy, Corsica, and Sardinia are its natural habitat. The best wines come from grapes grown in poor soils and slightly above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roll is sensitive to spring frosts. He’s a true Mediterranean guy, loving the<\/strong> sun<\/strong>, warmth, and sea breeze.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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MAIN REGIONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main growing regions for Rolle and other synonyms are Italy and France<\/strong>. Italy includes Liguria, Sardinia, and Piedmont. France, the Mediterranean coast, including Corsica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France has a larger area of Rolle vineyards than Italy, its native country. The largest plantings are in the French department of Var<\/strong> (part of the Provence<\/strong> wine region), as well as in Corsica<\/strong>, Languedoc-Roussillon (mainly the western coastal region of Languedoc<\/strong>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vermentino, also known as Pigato, is the most widely planted grape in the Italian region of Liguria<\/strong>. Vermentino is also the main white grape of Sardinia, particularly in the north of the island. Sardinia<\/strong>‘s only DOCG, Gallura, has even been created for it. Small plantings of Vermentino are found in Tuscany<\/strong>, Umbria, Puglia, and Lazio. In Tuscany, for example, Vermentino can be used as one of the grapes for Vin Santo. Small areas of Vermentino, known as Favorita, exist in Piemont, particularly the Alba zone, but these are becoming increasingly rare.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vermentino can be found in Malta and in high-altitude vineyards (1200 m) in Lebanon. In the United States, it is found in California, Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia. There are also Vermentino vineyards in Brazil and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW DOES ROLLE TASTE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wines made from Rolle or Vermentino are always fresh and aromatic<\/strong>, with good acidity and medium alcohol<\/strong>, with a bitter finish <\/strong>(often described as grapefruit or green almond). On the palate, Rolle wines are dry but quite oily, with notes of citrus, minerality<\/strong>, and even a slight saltiness<\/strong>. However, very different styles can be found. The best Rolle examples are more mineral, floral, fruity, and slightly spicy. To maintain the necessary acidity for balance, the grapes often need to be harvested quite early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To simplify matters, two main Rolle styles can be distinguished:<\/p>\n\n\n\n