Trollinger

Portrait

Trollinger, called Vernatsch in South Tyrol, is an old red variety probably originating in the Alpine region; the name is said to derive from "Tirolinger". In Germany it is almost exclusively found in Württemberg, where it is traditionally served by the glass as an everyday wine, and it ranks among the most planted varieties there.

The vine is vigorous, productive and ripens late; it needs warm sites such as the Neckar valley and its side valleys. The berries are large and thin-skinned and give pale, low-tannin wines with fresh acidity; excessive yields make them thin. Leading producers use older vines and cut yields to achieve more serious, structured wines.

Trollinger is an easygoing everyday wine that goes with cold platters, Maultaschen, sausage salad and Swabian dishes, and is drunk young.