Nusserhof Elda Schiava Vino Rosso 2017

The Wine: Nusserhof Elda Schiava Vino Rosso 2017

The wine is named after vignaiolo Heinrich Mayr’s wife Elda. Known locally as Vernatsch, Schiava is a thin-skinned grape native to the Alto Adige. The grapes come from a 1.5-hectare parcel on a steep slope right off the highway and are trained in Pergola.

The vines are very old and the wine is actually a field blend of many grapes both red and white, most of which the Mayrs do not know the origin of. Everything is harvested and co-fermented together.

The Producer: Nusserhof

Elda & Heinrich Mayr are the latest generation of their family to work this land, where the records date back to at least 1788. The Nusserhof gets its name from the walnut trees that once lined the house on the riverside. Not so long ago they were torn out to put in a municipal bike path. This is typical of the recent history of Nusserhof. As the years have gone by, the urban environs of the city of Bolzano have continually encroached on the estate.

On the 2.5 hectares surrounding the house, the Mayrs cultivate Lagrein and Blatterle, two native grapes of the region. There is also a tiny bit of Teroldego planted. The vines are about 50% in guyot trellising and about 50% in pergola. They also own a 1.5-hectare plot on a steep slope right off the highway. The vines, trained in pergola, are planted mainly in Schiava but are very old and actually a field blend of many grapes both red and white, most of which the Mayrs do not know the name of. The viticulture is organic, certified by the German agency Bioland.