Teroldego

A vine of northern Italy’s Trentino-Alto-Adige zone, Teroldego is thought to have arrived there from the area of Verona around the shores of Lake Garda. It was first documented by name in various works of the early 1800s, and has more recently been shown to be genetically related to the Syrah, Marzemino and Lagrein varieties. It is planted almost exclusively in the Campo Rotaliano in the Adige Valley north of Trento, and its sole appellation of origin is Teroldigo Rotaliano D.O.C.

Teroldego takes its name from its traditional method of cultivation, trained on a system of “tirelle” or wire harnesses. A cool-climate vine, it is hardy, vigorous and potentially prolific, and best suited to permeable, well drained soils. It has large, pentagonal, three-lobed leaves and the compact, elongated, pyramidal bunches support medium to small, round, blue black berries with thick, resistant, dusky skins. The fruit is low in tannin but high in aroma, color, extract, acidity, sugar and potential alcohol.

Teroldego is easily overcropped to produce bright, fresh, balanced, fruity wines to be drunk young. Its personality is transformed if yield is restricted, when it offers lush, concentrated dark stone fruit and black cherry flavors and aromas offset by smoke, herb and bitter almond notes. It is marked by a particularly fine acidic balance and complexity, and restrained oak contact rounds out its structure. Alternate names: Tiroldola, Tiraldega.