This week’s indigenous variety from Italy actually has its origins in Switzerland. The grape variety was made as a cross from Rouge de Diolly and Pinot Noir. It was created in 1970 by Andrea Jaquinet. The grape has now been allowed in both the Valle d’Aosta and the Trentino. I found that it is allowed in an interesting Indicazione Geografica Tipica (I.G.T.) called Mitterberg from the Bolzano area. The other grapes that are allowed in the Mitterberg white, rose and red wines are the following: Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Diolinoir, Kerner, Lagrein, Malvasia N., Merlot, Moscato giallo, Moscato rosa, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Pinot grigio, Pinot bianco, Pinot nero, Portoghese, Regent, Riesling italico, Riesling renano, Sauvignon, Schiava gentile, Schiava grigia, Schiava grossa, Sylvaner verde, Syrah, Teroldego, Veltliner, and Zweigelt.

I had never heard of Mitterberg until I started writing about this wine, or so I thought. Actually a fabulous…