Varietal Character

Trollinger

Free love was your motto, and the paternity
tests of many of the rising stars of Germany
prove it. In a bygone era your mild mannered
nature, red hair, and rose complexion was
curiously attractive. Your best years are
behind you, but be proud because your children
will be your legacy.

Appellations producing the most Trollinger wines:

Trollinger (aka. Black Hamburg, Blauer Trollinger, Schiava Grossa)

Trollinger is the most common German name for this red wine producing grape, which originated in western Austria. It is also known as Schiava in Italy where it is commonly planted in the South Tyrol region. It is alternatively known as Black Hamburg by many growers and consumers of table grapes. In Italy, and Germany, where it is grown in the Wurttemberg region, Trollinger is used to make pale red wines with low alcohol and tannin levels. Rotberger, the name given to a cross resulting from this grape, is used to produce similar light red wines. Highly productive, its exceptionally late-ripening nature means it is unpopular in other cooler parts of Germany. Trollinger has been particularly successful part of Germany's grape breeding program. Kerner, perhaps the most Riesling like of the German crosses, is a direct descendant of Trollinger. However many others include Trollinger amongst their ancestry.