This red grape variety comes from Trentino-South Tyrol(Italy). The name probably derives from the Valle Lagarina in Trentino. Synonyms are Bauernlagrein, Blauer Lagrein, Burgundi Lagrein, Lagarino, Lagrain, Lagreinkretzer, Lagrino, Lagroin and Landschwarze. According to the latest DNA analyses carried out in 2021, it comes from a presumably natural cross between Schiava Gentile x Teroldego. The parent variety Schiava Gentile, however, is not certain according to other DNA analyses from 2006. A "Red Lagrein" (wine) is mentioned by the Tyrolean peasant leader Michael Gaismair (1490-1532) around 1525. However, the earliest mention of a Lagrein variety in a document from Gries near Bolzano from 1318 refers to a white wine. Until the 18th century, "Lagreiner" usually meant a white wine. Its identity is not clear, however, because it could have been Savagnin Blanc (Traminer) or Lagarino Bianco.
The vine produces colourful, full-bodied red wines with aromas of berries and plums, but with relatively few tannins. It is mainly cultivated in the Trentino-South Tyrol region, where it is often blended with the Schiava Grossa variety. Lagrein is used as the main variety in South Tyrol DOC wine in the rosé wine Lagrein Rosato or Lagrein Kretzer and in the red wine Lagrein Scuro or Lagrein Dunkel, as well as a blending partner in other DOC wines of the region. The variety occupies 227 hectares in Italy, with a strong downward trend (in 2010 it was 654 hectares). There are further stocks in Australia (21 ha), Brazil, New Zealand (2 ha), Romania (0.4 ha) and California. In Germany, there is an experimental cultivation on the Mosel. In 2016, a total of 251 hectares of vines were reported (Kym Anderson statistics).
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
