Outside Chance Teroldego 2018

You’re in for a rare treat with this beauty—California’s take on northern Italy’s highly prized Teroldego grape. Winemakers reasoned that, if there’s an outside chance of a European-style grape variety doing well somewhere else in the world, it would succeed in California. With that in mind, they took the plunge and—fortunately, for all of us—the grape has taken to its new world like a duck to water and is resulting in fabulous sips like this one.

Originally from northern Italy’s Trentino region—located in the dramatic Adige Valley that provides a corridor into the Alps—Teroldego is a dark red grape variety with a bracing acidity and a hint of bitterness. A parent of famous Syrah (aka Shiraz), it has been cultivated in Italy for hundreds of years and is often used to add color and depth to blends, especially in Tuscany and Sicily.

The conditions are just right for Teroldego grapes in sunny California—a late-ripening variety, they benefit from plenty of extra warmth. Raise a glass of this distinctive wine and you’ll enjoy the concentrated, fresh flavors that were the result of California’s standout 2018 vintage. As Wine Spectator noted of the year, “moderate weather led to a long growing season, allowing grapes to ripen smoothly.”

A unique taste, the signature freshness of Teroldego grapes is tempered by ripe dark bramble fruit aromas and bitter chocolate and black cherry flavors. If you’ve never tasted a wine that’s made with Teroldego before, try it on its own to truly appreciate its vibrant acidity. Then, enjoy its distinction with a cheese plate and savory appetizers—bacon lovers, rejoice, it’s a perfect pair!