Schiava - Nobody’s slave

Published: August 1, 2007, 5:10 pm

Tags: wine

…and the “Rare Grape Series” continues… This time ’round we consider SCHIAVA (pronounced SKYA-va). Schiava is this variety’s Italian name (which means “female slave” by the way - the common wisdom is that this may point to the grape’s Slavic origins), but the variety is also known by two German language names: Vernatsch in the former Austrian region of Alto Adige (Italy), and by the name of Trolliger in southwestern Germany. Schaiva is a red-skinned grape, but a particularly light red. Because of this, Schiava is as often used to produce rose` wines (or Kretzer(s) as they are called in German) as they are for making reds. After some recent rigorous DNA testing, it was discovered that there are at least two quite distinctive “branches” of the Schiava family. One is often named Schaiva Grossa or Grossvernatsch in German. This side of the family is considered to be the more rustic, less refined one. The more noble

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