Schiava or Vernatsch

Schiava, now called Vernatsch, is a red grape variety cultivated mainly in Alto Adige, the northern part of the Trentino Alto Adige region, thought to be of Italian origin but also found in Germany and Switzerland.

Schiava or Vernatsch is a late ripening variety and is generally at its best at a young age, its grapes are mostly used to produce light red wine but can also be used to make rosé wines that are darker in colour. In the last few years, a new generation of wine makers, reclaiming ancient vineyards and low yield and experimenting, is trying to change the grape perception producing age worthy, elegant, complex red wines.