Which grape is, along with being perhaps the most well-known Italian grape, associated with high acidity?

• A. Vermentino
• B. Sangiovese
• C. Glera
• D. Amarone

Answer: (B)

High acidity is a defining trait that keeps many Italian wines lively and age-worthy, and the grape that embodies this quality while also being widely recognized as Italian’s most famous is Sangiovese. Sangiovese wines—from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino—are known for bright, mouth-watering acidity that helps balance tannins and flavors of red cherry, plum, and herbs. That acidity is what gives these wines their refreshing character and strong aging potential, making Sangiovese the iconic Italian grape associated with high acidity.

Vermentino and Glera are both known for crisp, vibrant acidity in their wines—Vermentino is a white variety famed for mineral, citrus notes, while Glera (the Prosecco grape) yields sparkling wines with a lively bite. Amarone isn’t a grape at all but a wine style made from dried grapes, so it doesn’t fit as the grape in question.