The very pleasant drinkability of the Schiava

by Editorial Staff 02/02/21 |

Popular South Tyrolean grape variety, schiava offers fresh and very pleasant wines. We offer four producers of undisputed quality: Pfannenstielhof, Cantina di Bolzano, Gumphof and Nicolussi-Leck.

Schiava (Vernatsch in Alto Adige) is by far the most widespread and traditional red grape of Trentino Alto Adige, even if it has been steadily declining in recent years. The great popularity of this grape is due to its resistance and great productivity: it easily exceeds the yield of 100 quintals per hectare, although with lower yields the results are better.

It is not a grape particularly rich in extracts and coloring substances, however it gives fresh floral notes and pleasing and elegant wines. It is vinified almost exclusively in the Doc Lago di Caldaro, Alto Adige Schiava and Santa Maddalena (with a small addition of Lagrein).

We have chosen, from our guide Wines for all budgets, four South Tyrolean Schiava-based wines representative of the different DOCs, always with an eye on the wallet.

Let's start with Johannes Pfeifer, undoubtedly one of the greatest interpreters of Santa Maddalena: simplicity, drinkability, typicality and surprising aging capacity are the hallmarks of this wine. But of course here at Pfannenstielhof, at the eastern edge of Bolzano's basin, are also produced other interesting wines, starting from the classic Lagrein.

Let's move on to the Cantina di Bolzano, one of the most important wineries in Alto Adige for the history and quality of its wines. Founded in 2001 from the merger of the Gries (founded in 1908) and Santa Maddalena (1930) wineries, this historic winery, run since 1988 by Stephan Filippi, is the proud custodian of the traditional wine production of the Bolzano area and therefore Lagrein, in various versions, and Santa Maddalena with the now legendary Huck am Bach, the true eponym of the type.

We move to Novale di Presule, at the entrance of Valle Isarco, to find Gumphof. Markus Prackwieser's vineyards are among the steepest and most vertiginous of the whole Alto Adige, but here the young and shy producer is building, step by step and with great commitment, a career that is taking him to the top of the region. His wines are all characterized by great elegance, strong personality and very fair prices.

Let's conclude with the Nicolussi-Leck estate, located under the ruins of Castelchiaro, in the immediate vicinity of Lake Caldaro. On steep slopes, up to 40%, at 350 m above sea level, the vines grow constantly affected by the Ora wind, which blows from Lake Garda. The warm sandy-clayey soils and the porphyry rocks of the Monte di Mezzo complete the characteristics of a very special environment.

Alto Adige Santa Maddalena Classico 2019 Pfannenstielhof

95/100 - € 12,00

Blend of 95% Schiava and 5% Lagrein grapes. Matures 7 months in acacia barrels. Bright ruby red color. Classic aromas of wildberries, flowers and spices. Fresh taste as usual, juicy, attractive. A great classic of its kind that confirms all it’s personality.

Alto Adige Santa Maddalena Classico 2019 Cantina Bolzano

94/100 - € 14,00

Made of Schiava grapes with a small part of Lagrein. Matures about 6 months in barrels. Bright ruby red color. Enveloping aromas of delicate spices and red fruits. Elegant taste, fresh and smooth. Very pleasant drinkability.

Alto Adige Schiava Mediaevum 2019 Gumphof

93/100 - € 13,00

100% Schiava grapes. Stainless steel and ⅓ in barrels for 6-8 months. Bright ruby red color. Fragrant aromas of little red fruits and spices. Juicy and trafget taste, fresh and savory. Smooth, elegant finish with great personality.

Lago di Caldaro Classico Superiore Alexander 2019 Nicolussi Leck

91/100 - € 15,00

100% Schiava grapes. Matures in barrels (70%) and stainless steel for 7 months. Pale ruby red color. Delicate aromas of violet and cherries. Rich, tense taste, fresh and fulfilling drinkability. A classic wine.

Related Products

Product	Producer	Date of publication	Author	Read
Santa Maddalena Classico 2019 Alto Adige Santa Maddalena Classico	Pfannenstielhof	12/16/20	Dario Cappelloni	Blend of 95% Schiava and 5% Lagrein grapes. Matures 7 months in acacia barrels. Bright ruby red color. Classic aromas of wildberries, flowers and spices. Fresh taste as usual, juicy, attractive. A... Leggi tutto
Huck am Bach 2019 Alto Adige Santa Maddalena Classico	Cantina Bolzano	02/02/21	Dario Cappelloni	Made of Schiava grapes with a small part of Lagrein. Matures about 6 months in barrels. Bright ruby red color. Enveloping aromas of delicate spices and red fruits. Elegant taste, fresh and smooth.... Leggi tutto
Schiava Mediaevum 2019 Alto Adige	Gump Hof - Markus Prackwieser	02/02/21	Dario Cappelloni	100% Schiava grapes. Stainless steel and ⅓ in barrels for 6-8 months. Bright ruby red color. Fragrant aromas of little red fruits and spices. Juicy and trafget taste, fresh and savory. Smooth,... Leggi tutto
Alexander 2019 Lago di Caldaro Classico Superiore	Tenuta Nicolussi Leck	02/02/21	Dario Cappelloni	100% Schiava grapes. Matures in barrels (70%) and stainless steel for 7 months. Pale ruby red color. Delicate aromas of violet and cherries. Rich, tense taste, fresh and fulfilling drinkability. A... Leggi tutto
Pfannenstielhof		06/25/13	Redazione	Johannes Pfeifer is without a doubt one of the best producers of Santa Maddalena. His wines stand out for their simplicity, drinkability, typicity and surprising ability to age. Pfannenstielhot,... Leggi tutto
Cantina Bolzano		12/24/11	Redazione	Considered one of the most important winemaking realities in Alto Adige for both its history and the quality of its wines, this winery was created in 2001 through the merger of the Gries winery... Leggi tutto
Gump Hof - Markus Prackwieser		11/11/11	Redazione	The vineyards of Markus Prackwieser are among the steepest in all Alto Adige but it is here that the young and shy producer from Novale di Presule, at the entrance of Valle Isarco, is year after year... Leggi tutto
Tenuta Nicolussi Leck		02/02/21	Redazione	The Nicolussi-Leck estate is located below the Castelchiaro ruins, quite near to Lake Caldaro. Growing on a steep 40% incline at 350m above sea level, the vines are subject to the constant and... Leggi tutto