Cesanese is an ancient red grape originating in Italy, in the municipality of Cesanese, in the Lazio region around Rome. Since the time of the Roman Empire, this region has been renowned for producing a wide variety of excellent wines. While Cesanese was the most widespread grape in the region, it has been in steady decline for several centuries, accounting for only about 1,000 hectares of planted grapes in Italy. The decline of the grape is irrevocably linked to the general decline of viticulture in the Lazio region due to the urban expansion and the shift to more industrial enterprises, but also because of the increasing popularity of local white wines.
 

Cesanese's reputation is not helped by the fact that it can be a difficult grape to manage in the vineyard, due to its very late ripening. In some cases, the grapes will not reach full phenolic maturity, and the resultant thin, watery wines do not demonstrate the best qualities of Cesanese. It is only in the last few decades that Italian winemakers, such as Lorealla and Piero have begun to reverse this trend. This handful of dedicated winemakers who are now looking after the grape with more care, are producing a well balanced wine with subtle tannins and a perfectly moderate acidity.