Ever heard of Teroldego? This dark-skinned Italian grape, a vitis vinifera, has a rich history. It’s gaining recognition for its exceptional expressions in unexpected places, such as Clarksburg, California.
Teroldego: A Deep Dive into an Italian Classic
Teroldego, pronounced “teh-ROHL-deh-go,” hails from the Trentino-Alto Adige region in northeastern Italy. This ancient Italian grape that’s a dark horse is primarily found in the Campo Rotaliano. This plain sits between the Adige and Noce rivers.
Origins and History
Theories abound regarding the origin of the name “Teroldego.” One suggests it derives from “tiroldego,” meaning “Tyrol gold.”
Another theory links it to a 15th-century village called Teroldege. Wine Grapes notes this is where the first records of Teroldego wine sales appeared.
2020 Silt Wine Co Teroldego
A deep dark red wine full of dark fruit characters of blackberry and plum on the pallet. A jammy body is well structured with a robust tannin in this big bodied variety.
Tasting Notes and Characteristics
What does a textbook Teroldego taste like? Expect an intense fruit experience of blackberry and black currant.
Hints of tobacco, clove, vanilla bean, and spice emerge, especially with oak aging. Teroldego wines are known for their ripe fruit and bright acidity.
Some California wine experts compare Teroldego to Zinfandel, albeit with subtler spice notes. Teroldego is a dark-skinned mountain variety with varietally correct flavors.
Food Pairings
Teroldego’s acidity makes it versatile with food pairings. It pairs beautifully with hearty dishes like grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and aged cheeses.
Its boldness stands up to rich flavors, making Teroldego an interesting choice for spicy foods and dishes featuring mushrooms, truffles, and other earthy flavors.
Teroldego in Clarksburg, CA: A New Chapter
Traditionally a mountain variety growing primarily in Italy’s mountainous Trentino-Alto Adige region, Teroldego thrives in Clarksburg’s unique climate. The warm days and cool nights contribute to the full ripeness of the grapes, making the area excellent for growing excellent Italian varieties like Teroldego.
Wineries
Two wineries championing Teroldego are Silt Wine Co. and Heringer Estates. These wineries have adopted Teroldego as a flagship varietal.
They produce excellent Italian varieties growing there, demonstrating Teroldego’s potential outside Italy. They showcase exceptional expressions of what this grape can achieve in a new environment.
Teroldego’s Future
Despite its relatively low profile, Teroldego’s potential is immense. More wineries in California and beyond may explore planting Teroldego.
Major market pulling power will greatly influence whether producers start making exceptional expressions. With increasing interest and excellent Italian scores, Teroldego’s future appears bright.
Conclusion
Whether you’re exploring Clarksburg wineries, shopping for Teroldego or other Italian wines, or just looking for interesting white and great wines to add to your wine club releases, consider Teroldego. This dark-skinned mountain variety, this Italian grape that’s kind of a dark horse, is an absolute surprise.
As more regions experiment with growing excellent Italian varieties like this one, and with the major market pulling Teroldego in more directions, who knows where this wine will end up? As its quality continues to gain recognition, perhaps you’ll find Teroldego becoming a new favorite. This ancient Italian grape that’s kind of an underdog is finally gaining the recognition it deserves.
