Trentino-Alto Adige

Trentino-Alto Adige is located in northern Italy, on the border to Austria. It is divided in two very different areas: Alto Adige (Südtirol - South Tyrol), and the Alpine but more Italian part called Trentino.

The capital and largest city is Trento, followed by the Südtirol provincial capital, Bozen (Bolzano).

Before 1918, Südtirol was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, but was annexed to Italy after the first World War.

Italian and German are official languages, but the locals also speak Ladin.

Climate

The Dolomite mountain range strongly influences the climate and vineyard altitudes. The climate is generally cool, with significant temperature variations between day and night. This diurnal temperature range is favorable for the development of aromatic compounds in the grapes.

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Quality Wine

Trentino and Alto Adige have their own Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) designations.

Notable regions in Trentino include Trentino DOC, Teroldego Rotaliano DOC and Valdadige DOC.

In Alto Adige, notable regions are Alto Adige DOC and Alto Adige Valle Isarco DOC.

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German / Austrian Influence

The northern part of Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige/South Tyrol, has a strong Germanic cultural influence due to its history. This is reflected not only in the names of places and people but also in the grape varieties cultivated. German and Austrian grape varieties like Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, and Sylvaner are grown alongside traditional Italian varieties.

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Grapes

Early wine production was dominated by Austrian red wines like Lagrein and Vernatch (Schiava).

Today white wines are more important, mostly Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, and Chardonnay.

Upcoming wines are Savignon Blanc and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir).

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Local Grapes

Teroldego is a red grape local to Trentino.

It is known for producing deeply colored and fruity red wines.

The wine Teroldego Rotaliano, made with this grape in Trentino, has had a DOC status since 1971. It is planted on about 400 hectares and is cultivated by over 300 producers.

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Food Pairing

Local wine will always try to complement local cuisine. Trentino-Alto Adige's wines complement Alpine-inspired dishes as well as Italian and Austrian dishes.

The white wines pair well with the local cheeses, vegetables, freshwater fish and fried chicken.

The red wines Schava and St.Magdalener pair well with aromatic light food, veal, pork and rabbit, while Teroldego goes well with rich dishes, goulash, game, venison and braises.

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