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Underdog Grape · Italy

Schiava (Vernatsch)

Pronounced skee-AH-vah

Schiava is the most-planted red in Italy's German-speaking Alps — pale, light, low-tannin, and almost absurdly easy to drink. It also has one of the most curious names in wine.

Tasting profile
Full tasting notes live in the deep dive.
What the name means
Slavic. Medieval Latin sclavus meant a Slav, and later a slave, which is where Italian schiavo comes from. Grape historians read the name in its first sense, Slavic. The German name, Vernatsch, means native.
Where it grows
Alto Adige, Italy
Explore the Northern Italy field guide
The catch
It will never be a status wine: light, cheap, unpretentious, and meant to be drunk young. If you want structure in a red, this reads as thin rather than refreshing.
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Alto Adige, Italy

Related underdogs

AglianicoCannonauCarricante
Read the deep diveSchiava Meaning, and the Pale, Easy Alpine Red Behind the Name

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