Glancing through our current wine releases there are a handful of varietals whose obscurity can be daunting to even those with an advanced wine knowledge. All of the questions that I receive about these wines from the Negrette to the Lagrein has prompted me to write a series of short articles to explain each of these grapes and discuss their history and place in the wine world.
Lagrein is a varietal that comes from Northern Italy, bordering the Austrian Alps, just north of the city of Bolzano in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The area has been one of political turmoil throughout the years, bouncing between Austrian, Italian, and briefly German rule. Before World War I, Bolzano was part of the Austro-Hungarian county of Tyrol, but it was annexed by Italy in the post-war treaties (Treaty of Saint-Germain). It was seized by Germany during World War II, but returned shortly thereafter when Germany fell. Today it is part of Italy.
Lagrein is an intense and deeply garnet hued wine whose rich fruit and naturally bright acidity make it a delicious match for big flavors on the dinner plate. It is saturated, thick, and juicy – a definite “lip stain.” As a red it is also known as Lagrein Dunkel and as a rose it is sometimes referred to as Lagrein Kretzer.
The four acres we have planted at Joughin Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley are part of the small acreage that is planted to Lagrein in the Central Coast. Aside from its native Trentino-Alto Adige, it can also be found in limited quantities in Australia and Oregon’s Umpqua Valley appellation.
2005 Santa Barbara Winery Lagrein
30.00 per bottle
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
0 Response to “What is Lagrein?”