It is a variety native of western Sicily and, although present on the island for many centuries, the origin is not certain yet. At the end of the nineteenth century it was the most prevalent grape variety in the provinces of Palermo and Trapani, where it was known by the name of Pignatello (from pignatidare, the red soils of the Trapanese area used for the manufacture of cooking pots) and where the production of Marsala Ruby took place. The plant is characterized by medium-sized, round and pentagonal leaves, conical-pyramidal and compact bunches, spherical, dark blue-skinned grapes, very waxy, thick and leathery.
