To keep the drift going, the US Market for Schiava is very thin, but I am luck to visit family in Trentino once or twice a year so I can catch up on Schiava. For me Girlan’s Gschleier remains the benchmark, especially with several years of age. Glogglhof old vines from Franz Gojer is a close second, and the Kaltersee Keil from Manincor can be terrific. In Trentino one can find some delicious examples, especially from the val di Cembra, I like Cantina di Montagna, and Gino Pedrotti, in addition to making benchmark Vino Santo produces a great Schaiva nera.
I try mostly the same producers every year but will look out for the Gump and Pranzegg to add to the rotation!
I was kind of doing my bit to keep the drift from escalating, but now that you mention it… There is a LOT of really good Schiava around these days (and Sankt Magdalener as well…) for those who enjoy this type of wine. Just very briefly, definitely +1 on Franz Gojer’s Alte Reben. Baron Widmann is fabulous too. Plus many others. In a different stylistic register, Heinrich Mayr’s Elda (a field blend but normally at least around 90% old-vine Schiava) is a legendary wine. And, of course, Hartmann Dona’ and his Rouge: possibly the best Schiava-based red wine ever.
Thank me later - here are 5 Italian White recommendations
1)Terlano Nova Domus -Chard/Pinot Bianco/Sauv Blanc blend from the north. Built for the long haul
2)Villa Bucci Riserva 2016 - Verdicchio from the Marche region - Home of Tods shoes
3)Pieropan La Rocco or Calvarino - Grand Cru Soave from the Veneto
4)Isole e Olena Chardonnay - Toscana Italy’s best Chard
5)Querciabella Batar - Toscana 50/50 Chard & Pinot Bianco Biodynamic juice from Greve. Used to be named Batard, but had to drop the D with France being angry about it.
Batar is $90 or less. The rest are between $40-$70
We do really well with Schiava, at least in California; people used to be very concerned about depth of color in red wine 20 years ago, but no longer, fortunately. I drink a lot of it.
I really like Tinessa, but I have some reservations. While his best bottles are very good, there has really been an inordinate amount of weird or off bottles as well.
We just had a Gini Contrada Salvarenza Vecchie Vigne 2016 release around here. I got my fair share since I really enjoyed the only other vintage I have tried (2012), especially my last bottle in 2020. The private importer sent out some information to go along the release. I was surprised to learn that more than a third of the vines producing the grapes for this cuvée are pre-philloxera. Apparently, the Gini family has been cultivating vines since the 17th century. A quote from Claudio Gini: “We don’t know the exact age of these vines but my grand-father remembers that they look today just as in his youth”.
Gravner Breg Anfora
Gravner Ribolla Anfora
Borgo del Tiglio Friulano Ronca della Chiesa
Fiorano Malvasia di Candia
Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Carato or Jermann Vintage Tunina (can’t decide between these two)
Sweet:
Quintarelli Amabile del Ceri Bandito
San Giusto a Rentennano Vin San Giusto
Maculan Acininobili
Lis Neris Tal Luc
Dal Forno Romano Nettare
Some strong nominations here. Although, personally, I much prefer Skerk’s Malvasia to his Ograde. Rapuzzi - actually pretty much everything, yes, yes, and yes . Bensa getting a lot less respect than they should: in that style, they are as good as any of the best and probably better than most.
I love Timorasso, but while I’ve enjoyed most Pecorinos I’ve had, they’ve all been just enjoyable (and often quite characterful) but also somewhat pedestrian everyday whites, nothing world-class. Any good recommendations?
I never got around to try the Malvasia, will work on correcting that mistake. However Ograde is quite a treat, really special, excellent balance and hauntingly complex, an emotion difficult to put a finger on.
Was considering if to add Ronchi di Cialla’s Ribolla Gialla which in most vintages is terrific as well and a pure joy (believe I said quite a bit about the red wines in previous posts as well). Recall reading a review from Ian D’Agata that Enzo from Miani at some point mentioned liking it, not a bad endorsement.
Indeed, Castellada doesn’t get the attention it honestly deserves, and everything I tried visiting or elsewhere for that matter has been terrific. Maybe due to being less extreme than it’s famous neighbors (?).
There is a LOT of really good Schiava around these days (and Sankt Magdalener as well…) for those who enjoy this type of wine. Just very briefly, definitely +1 on Franz Gojer’s Alte Reben. Baron Widmann is fabulous too. Plus many others. In a different stylistic register, Heinrich Mayr’s Elda (a field blend but normally at least around 90% old-vine Schiava) is a legendary wine. And, of course, Hartmann Dona’ and his Rouge: possibly the best Schiava-based red wine ever.
