Schiava, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

A fanciful little train ride brings us to this eager and alluring bottle. Pranzegg is a small wine-growing operation, comprising three hectares on the slopes above Bolzano, north-east Italy. Called many names, this 100% trollinger, schiava, or vernatsch, is a red Italian grape with delicate, high-toned and pinot-noir-esque savouriness. From loamy, sandy soil of volcanic origin and moraine deposits, the biodynamic fruit boasts tingly minerality. Partially destemmed, with five weeks of maceration pulls chewy tannins from this lighter grape, like a rabbit form a hat. A pocket full of dark rubies, snake eyes, pale cherry, soft wood, pine mushrooms, grandpa’s leather watch, tree bark, tripping over a dark stone in the woods & herbs. Enjoy with speck, spinach or beetroot dumplings tossed with butter and chives, transcedence awaits you.