Trollinger

White Pinot Bianco has a character all of its own in the region, combining alpine freshness with textural weight.

Red Schiava is a mountain grape indigenous to the region, once its most planted variety.

We'll hear from those who specialize in Pinot Bianco and Schiava to find out what makes them so special there.

Nestled in valleys that snake through the foothills of the Alps, Alto Adige/Südtirol is a region of contrasts and complexity.

For a start, it has two names.

History has seen conflict and early forms of ethnic cleansing through the wars, but happily these days its different cultures live together as one, albeit on a bilingual basis, meaning many grapes have two different names.

There are around 20 varieties that thrive, with Pinot Grigio the most planted, and the region is forging an international reputation with grapes that are true ambassadors for its mountainous character.

I've chosen two of those that I love, Pinot Bianco or Weissburgunder, known in France of course as Pinot Blanc, as my signature white, and Schiava, an indigenous red grape that once dominated the vineyards of Alto Adige/Südtirol as a workhorse variety, but now plays a smaller but pivotal role as a fresh, chillable red that's in tune with the times.