Teroldego
Encyclopedia
Teroldego is a red Italian grape variety
grown primarily in the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy
.
has been produced since ancient times in "Campo Rotaliano", an alluvial plain between the rivers Adige
and Noce. Teroldego takes its name from its traditional method of cultivation, trained on a system of “tirelle” or wire harnesses, an explanation that's more likely, if less pretty, than its legendary association with German dialect for gold of the Tirol. It has recently been discovered to be a full sibling of the Dureza
variety from France, which is one of the parents of Syrah
.
The grapes ripen around the last week of September or the first week of October.
status since 18 February 1971. It is planted on 390.5 hectares and is cultivated by over 300 producers.
Some California
authorities compare Teroldego to Zinfandel
, with its spicy red fruits, and hints of tar, pine, and almond, but few tasters would confuse the two varieties in a blind tasting. Its snappy acidity makes it a versatile food wine.
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
grown primarily in the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Description
WineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
has been produced since ancient times in "Campo Rotaliano", an alluvial plain between the rivers Adige
Adige
The Adige is a river with its source in the Alpine province of South Tyrol near the Italian border with Austria and Switzerland. At in length, it is the second longest river in Italy, after the River Po with ....
and Noce. Teroldego takes its name from its traditional method of cultivation, trained on a system of “tirelle” or wire harnesses, an explanation that's more likely, if less pretty, than its legendary association with German dialect for gold of the Tirol. It has recently been discovered to be a full sibling of the Dureza
Dureza
Dureza is a dark-skinned grape variety from the Ardèche region in France. It has been used for production of red wine, but is hardly grown any more; it is not part of the list of the allowed grape varieties of any French wine appellation, and in 1988 only 1 hectare of Dureza remained, while there...
variety from France, which is one of the parents of Syrah
Shiraz grape
Syrah or Shiraz is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines. Whether sold as Syrah or Shiraz, these wines enjoy great popularity.Syrah is used as a varietal and is also blended...
.
The grapes ripen around the last week of September or the first week of October.
Cultivation & winemaking
The wine Teroldego Rotaliano, which is made with this grape in Trentino, has had DOCDenominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
status since 18 February 1971. It is planted on 390.5 hectares and is cultivated by over 300 producers.
Some California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
authorities compare Teroldego to Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
, with its spicy red fruits, and hints of tar, pine, and almond, but few tasters would confuse the two varieties in a blind tasting. Its snappy acidity makes it a versatile food wine.