Kaltern Schiava (Vernatsch) Leuchtenberg Classico Superiore DOC 2020

Country
Italy
Region
Trentino Alto Adige
Producer
Kaltern Caldaro
Grape(s)
Vernatsch (100%)
Type
White
Style
Fruity
Oaked Style
Lightly oaked
Body Style
Light bodied
Dry/Sweet Style
Dry
Alcohol Content
13%
Closure Style
Diam
Organic/Biodynamic
No
Sustainable
Yes-certified sustainable
Vegetarian/Vegan
Vegetarian
Yes
Vegan
Yes
Allergens
Sulphites
Yes
Milk
No
Egg
No

Region

Alto Adige is in the north eastern corner of Italy, bordering Switzerland and Austria. Known as Sudtirol to the German-speaking two-thirds of its inhabitants, this region is well known for its wines and its beautiful scenery. Alto Adige is one of the smallest wine making areas in Italy, but it is also one of the most geographically varied; viticulture starts in the foot of the highest mountain in the north and extends down to the mediterranean landscape of the south.

Producer

Kellerei Kaltern Caldaro is a co-operative with approximately 440 members with a vineyard area of over 300 hectares. Due to steep slopes and varying sizes of individual vineyard plots, the vineyards are almost entirely worked by hand. Vineyards around Lake Kaltern are very small in size and most of the winemakers in the region have less than one hectare of land, for a small winemaker it is virtually impossible to make and market their own wine so the co-operative of Kaltern was set up in 1906 with the goal of producing high quality wines. In 2018, Kellerei Kaltern became the first Italian wine producer to be awarded Fair`n Green`s certificate for sustainable viticulture. Fair`n Green covers both environmental and social sustainability issues.
Tasting Notes
Vernatsch, also known as Schiava, is a grape grown almost exclsively in Alto Adige (it is also grown in some areas of Germany under the name Trollinger). This Vernatsch is a bright ruby red in colour with a fresh nose of raspberries, cherries and violets, aromas which are trypical for the grape. The palate is round with supple tannins, elegant fruit tones and a lasting finish.
Food
This wine is ideal as an accompaniment to appetizers, or to typical Tyrolean fare such as speck and sausage, but also to lighter meats and mild cheeses. Otherwise chicken dishes would pair well or a pescetarian option would be a salad nicoise.
Media
Leuchtenberg Kalterersee Classico Superiore 2017 was awarded as “Schiava of the year” at the Alto Adige Trofeo Schiava (Schiava Trophy Awards).