The Wine Reference🍷 SupportSchiava grape
Schiava is a red grape known for red cherry, strawberry, almond. Its best-known homes are Alto Adige.
Origin and history
An old family of grapes from the Alpine foothills, probably named after Slavic workers ('schiavi'); it has been grown in Alto Adige for centuries.
Where it grows
Alto Adige and Trentino in Italy, and Württemberg in Germany (as Trollinger).
Structure
Light body, pale colour, soft low tannins and gentle acidity: one of the lightest reds made.
Aromas, young and aged
Young: red cherry, strawberry, violet, bitter almond and cotton candy. With age: mostly best fresh, gaining dried cherry and almond.
Ageing
Drink within 1–3 years; old-vine Santa Maddalena can hold for 5–8 years.
Also known as
Vernatsch (South Tyrol), Trollinger (Germany), Black Hamburg (UK, as table grape).
Good to know
The Great Vine at Hampton Court, planted in 1768 and among the world's largest, is Schiava Grossa, grown as the table grape Black Hamburg.
Similar red grapes
Explore all grapes in the interactive guide
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