Early 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), revolutionary politician and president of the United States of America. From Italian aleatico, further etymology uncertain and disputed. Most authorities accept a derivation from Italian regional (Emilia-Romagna) aliädga, lit. ‘(grape) growing in July’, regional variant of lugliatico (of a grape) that ripens in July from luglio + -atico, but this presents phonological problems.