Alionza has been growing in the provinces of Bologna and Modena of Emilia-Romagna since at least the early 14th century, when it was documented in Italian agricultural writer Pietro de' Crescenzi's Ruralia commoda treatise.
Historically, the grape has often been confused with the Greek wine grape Sklava that is grown in the eastern Peloponnese region of Argolis, but no evidence has ever suggested that the two grapes are closely related.