Schiava, aka vernatsch (aka trollinger), is the primary native grape of the region around the Kalterersee, a smallish lake in the Adige Valley of northern Italy (the grape can actually be labeled Kalterersee Auslese, so that's four separate names!). The nearest town is Kaltern (Caldaro in Italian—this is a primarily German-speaking part of Italy), which is where the Sölvas call home, specifically the cliffside neighborhood of St Nikolaus, thus the namesake of the winery.

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Dieter Sölva makes supremely focused varietal wines of all the main grapes of the Adige Valley, namely kerner and pinot blanc for whites, lagrein and schiava for reds. Schiava is a true cool-climate Alpine grape, very light in body (ruby red or even dark rosé), slightly bitter and herbaceous on the palate and a light, elegant tannic finish. Its most famous food pairing is the regional specialty "speck", smoked prosciutto.

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This 2019 Niklas schiava has bitter red flower on the nose, with a bit of cranberry and cherry, rounded out with baking soda/baking spices, and herbaceous notes of fennel and celery. A light tannic finish that craves cured meats is perfect for aprés ski or an Alpine cheese and charcuterie board besides the fire.