Red grape variety
Lagrein
An Alpine Italian variety producing dark, firm, savoury reds in Alto Adige.
What is Lagrein?
Lagrein produces deeply coloured wines with firm tannin and a distinctive bitter-chocolate finish, quite unlike the light Alpine reds around it.
Alto Adige, northern Italy; a descendant of Teroldego.
The Vitis International Variety Catalogue, maintained by the Julius Kühn Institute, holds this variety as accession 6666 under the prime name LAGREIN, with berry skin colour noir and country of origin italy, and the pedigree "SCHIAVA GENTILE X TEROLDEGO". Checked 2026-08-17.
What it tastes like
This is the envelope across every expression of Lagrein, not a description of one bottle. Wide ranges are the honest answer.
| Dimension | Typical | Range | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | low | Consistent | |
| Acidity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Tannin | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Alcohol | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Body | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Fruit intensity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Aromatic intensity | medium | Consistent | |
| Oak influence | medium | Some variation | |
| Savoury character | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Floral character | low | Consistent | |
| Herbal / green character | low | Consistent | |
| Spice | low | Consistent | |
| Earthy character | medium | Some variation | |
| Perceived freshness | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Texture | medium | Consistent |
Common flavours
Where it grows
- Alto Adige — Italy
- Trentino-Alto Adige — Italy
If you like Lagrein, try…
Every suggestion says why it is connected and what will be different.
Closest matches
What is most like this?
Syrah
Comparable dark fruit and savoury structure at a lighter weight.
Fuller and more peppery.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Negroamaro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be broader and softer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but lighter
Something like this, but lighter?
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more floral, and less tannic and softer.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and softer and rounder.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Similar but lower in alcohol
Something like this, but less alcoholic?
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fuller
Something like this, but richer?
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be spicier, and more oaky.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Super Tuscan
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
What to eat with it
Ranked by WineHQ's pairing engine, which reasons from the structure of the dish.
Roast chicken
Works because the protein and fat in the dish soften the tannin and let the fruit show.
Steak
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
Beef stew
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
Fillet steak
Works because the finished dish, not the raw ingredient, sets the target.
Grilled chicken
Works because ripe fruit balances the bitterness of char and smoke.
Lamb
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
What to avoid with it
Dishes the pairing engine scores badly, and the principle that explains why. A short list: most things are fine.
How to serve it
Temperature
15–17°C
59–63°F · Cellar cool
Most modern rooms are warmer than this. Twenty to thirty minutes in the fridge before serving usually gets a red into range.
Decanting
Worth decanting
Young, firmly tannic wine often softens noticeably with an hour of air — the most reliable case for decanting.
Glass
Bordeaux glass
A taller, narrower bowl directs a tannic wine past the front of the palate. The effect is real but modest.
Ageing
Most wines made from this grape are for drinking now, but certain styles reward keeping.
The pale Kretzer rosé is for drinking immediately. Dark Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva is a different proposition — firm tannin and real depth of colour — and the better bottlings hold and improve over several years, though they rarely need as long as the tannin first suggests.
Family tree
Established by DNA analysis. Ampelography alone could not have found these relationships.
Parents
Marker-confirmed by VIVC as Schiava Gentile × Teroldego, which confirms and completes the descent from Teroldego that WineHQ already recorded. The breeder-supplied pedigree on the same VIVC record reads only “Teroldego × ?” — the passport carries both, at different strengths.
Sources
Sources consulted
- Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) — Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof
- Italian DOP and IGP wine register — Ministero dell’agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste (MASAF)