History

Raboso is a native red grape grown primarily in the North-East of Italy, around Treviso Province, in Veneto region.
Raboso is cultivated in this area since 3.000 years ago, as it is described on the renowned opera “Naturalis Historia” written by Plinio in which it is mentioned the Picina omnium nigerrima, the Raboso's ancestor.

Raboso: the naming

The name Raboso probably derives from the homonymous Piave's affluent, but also comes from the dialectal word "rabiosa", an adjective that identifies a sour fruit, due to its strong acidity and astringent grapes.

The history

Raboso Piave, for its historical origins and its constant presence during the centuries into the alluvial plain of Piave river, is strictly linked with the traditions and people of this area.
Thanks to its strong character and exceptional resistance to the dangerous diseases as downy milde and phylloxera had been the most cultivated grape of Treviso province for several centuries.
Our ancestors had named it also “vin da viaio” , a dialectal idiom that means “wine for long travel”: in the first years of Twentieth Century it was the only grape able to cross the Atlantic Ocean towards United States without being damaged during the long trip, or rather improving its tasting qualities.  
Immediately after the Second World War, Raboso was still the dominant wine of the Doc Piave Area, but between the 50’s and the 60’s the winegrowers of the area had slowly turned the cultivation to more marketable red wines as Merlot and Cabernet and Raboso gradually declined.

The modern times

In the last part of 90’s, thanks to the care and hard work of some wine producers of the area, the Raboso Piave has gained popularity and market shares: they have introduced new cultivation methods and reduced the production for plant obtaining a great red wine, now appreciated all over the world.

The confraternity of Raboso

The Confraternity of Raboso (www.confraternitarabosopiave.it) has been founded in 1996 in the municipality of Vazzola di Piave with the commendable aim of promoting the knowledge, the awarness and the diffusion of Raboso Piave grapes.
The Confraternity of Raboso Piave works moreover to preserve the ancient traditions linked to this wine and this area, taking part also to international exhibitions.
Together with Treviso Province and other territorial institutions, it develops studies and researches to valorise the Raboso Piave grape and improve vintage by vintage the quality of this great grape.