Schiava Grigia is a historic South Tyrolean variety belonging to the Schiava family, distinguished from the Grossa and Gentile varieties, particularly from the 19th century onwards. Its presence is particularly associated with the Santa Maddalena area, near Bolzano, where it was once one of the biotypes traditionally cultivated by local winegrowers; today it is also found in other hilly areas of South Tyrol and, to a lesser extent, in neighbouring Trentino. The leaf is medium-sized, generally round, entire or three-lobed, with a thin, slightly blistered margin. The bunch is medium-sized, often conical or pyramidal in shape and rather loose, whilst the berry is medium-sized, spherical, with a pruinose skin of a blue-black hue tending towards grey – a characteristic from which the variety takes its name. When vinified, it produces wines with a bright ruby-red colour, a light-bodied structure and delicate tannins, underpinned by a pleasant freshness. The aromatic profile evokes cherry, raspberry, redcurrant and other small red berries, with floral notes of violet and, at times, an elegant hint of almond. It is generally a wine designed for immediate enjoyment and to be drunk young, though it is capable of developing greater harmony with a short period of ageing. Among its ampelographic curiosities are the greyish colour of the berries and the characteristic bright yellowing of the vine leaves in autumn.
