WTI Magazine #10    2013 Dec, 20
Author : Vino OK      Translation by: Alessandra Bitetti

Trentino Alto Adige is famous for its large production of red wine, but the most credit goes to the white ones, which are excellent and take advantage from the fresh weather that can give a pleasant and intense acidity. 

As for the wine production is customary to divide the region into two different areas. The southern area is where the production of red wines from the Teroldego grapes is prevalent. The main protagonist of this region is Marzemino. In Trento Doc domination, however, there is a strong production of classic method sparkling wines.

Among the white grapes of Trentino is mandatory to mention the one that produces white and sweet wines, the most prestigious: Nosiola. This type of grape produces interesting and enjoyable dry wines, including Vino Santo, characterized by walnut aromas.

Thanks to the fresh weather, Trentino Alto Adige has a varied production of white wines, that are considered the best in Italy, characterized by the typical acidity and pleasant aroma enriched by the exuberant freshness of flowers and fruits. Even the production of red wine has an excellent quality and among them we can mention the Pinot Noir.

In Trentino Alto Adige the presence of many wines DOC, DOCG and IGT is normal, since there is a good wines production with an excellent quality. The list of DOC is: Alto Adige, Caldaro, Casteller, Toreldego Rotaliano, Trentino, Trento and Valdadige and Sylvaner. Among the IGT wines, we can mention Atesino delle Venezie, Delle Venezie, Mitterberg and Vallagarina. Sylvaner wine is much loved for its rich flavor and for its elegance that allows it to be proposed for important dinners.

The origin of this wine is in Central Europe, probably Austria or, as others believe, Romania, more precisely Transylvania. Sylvaner landed in Trentino around the beginning of the '700 and is still cultivated in the geographical range called DOC Alto Adige Valle Isarco. Furthermore the region viticulture has ancient origins and was already flourishing when Romans came to give a new impetus. Sylvaner is produced mainly in the Südtirol Valley, the area in which exclusively white wines are produced, with the exception of red Klausner Leitacher.

The wine has a straw yellow colour tending to greenish, with a delicate, pleasant and characteristic smell. Its flavor is dry and fruity. This wine is fresh with a minimum alcohol content of 10.5% by volume. It should be drunk within the first two years of life at 8 ° C. It's much appreciated as an aperitif and it blends beautifully with light starters, asparagus, boiled and grilled fish.

Nosiola is an Italian native variety set between Lakes Valley situated along the Sarco river up at the north end of Lake Garda and the hills of Pressano, about ten kilometers from Trento. The Nosiola name cames from "nosela", a dialect term that means wild hazelnut, which is the dominant aroma in wines made from this variety. Due to a very sensitive to climate, there are many varieties of Nosiola.

Its acidity recommends it as an excellent candidate for the production of sparkling wines. Some producers have also opted to ferment this variety in the wood; the standard of achievement varies from one to another. The Vin Santo is a straw wine made from Nosiola, too. It's aged for three years, with an alcoholic strength of 16% vol. The production area of this wine is limited to the municipalities of Arco, Calvin, Calvino, Cavedine, Drena, Dro, Lasino, Nago-Torbole Padergnone, Riva del Garda, Tenno and Vezzano.