About the Icons
Never heard of Schiava? This grape variety produces a fragrant, lighter bodied red in the alpine valleys of northern Italy. Schiava (also known locally as Vernatsch) is a great alternative to Pinot Noir, Gamay, or other light red. We have been known to serve it slightly chilled as well --

Weingut Niklas is a family owned and operated wine estate located just outside the small village of St. Nikolaus, in the Alto Adige region of Northeastern Italy, high up on the west side of a majestic valley that leads north through the Dolomites. Established in 1969, Weingut Niklas boasts three generations of passionate winemaking, and is currently managed by Dieter Sölva—a graduate of the famous enology school at San Michele, as was his father before him—and his wife Johanna, who took the reins in 1992. Although most of the wine made in Alto Adige is white, Schiava, also known as Vernatsch locally and Trollinger in Germany, is the top red grape in the region. It is a thin-skinned grape that has been farmed in the Alto Adige—where the altitude produces remarkably graceful red wines—since the 13th century. Made from two different types of 100% organically farmed Schiava. The grapes saw a five-day low-temp maceration in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and was fermented with selected yeasts. The wine was aged four months in stainless-steel, with a light filtration and no fining, allowing the wine’s natural flavors to shine. Pale red in color. Aromas of red fruit and dried flowers. The palate shows enticing flavors of wild strawberry, savory herbs, and orange peel. The finish is lingering with a charming mineral back bone. This is a versatile red, perfect in warmer weather, particularly after 30 minutes in the fridge.