Part of many grape variety names in northern Italy. The term Schiava is derived from the Latin "sclavus" or the Italian "schiavo", which means "slave". The German names are Trollinger(also Urban) in Germany and Vernatsch in South Tyrol. Vernatsch is derived from the Latin "vernaculus" meaning "native" or autochthonous.

The synonym "Geschlafene", which is also used for the independent Rossara Trentina variety, is probably also derived from "slave". Vernatsch/Schiava is also called Rossola in Veneto; however, it should not be confused with the Rossola Nera variety. It is not clear which of the varieties cultivated in South Tyrol are to be regarded as "clones/varieties" and which are actually "independent" and can only be clarified by DNA analyses.
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