16.2 - North East Italy: Alto-Adige

Question 1

Describe the growing environment of the Alto-Adige including two key moderating factors

Answer 1

Mild, Alpine climate - 300-700m

Why not too cold?

1. Warm air through valleys
2. 300 days of sun

Rainfall is sufficient and evenly spread

Souls vary including volcanic, quartz, mica, limestone - allows for variety of grapes

Question 2

How are vines trained?

Answer 2

Pergola - trad

Guyot - modern

Question 3

Why does leaf plucking have to be performed carefully?

Answer 3

A warming climate means a canopy that is too thin can cause sunburn or drying

Question 4

What are two important sub-zones and what do they grow?

Answer 4

Bassa Atesina - in south, warmer, grows most things, esp Muller Thurgau at high altitude

Oltradige - near Lake Caldaro for Schiava, Merlot and Cab S in valleys; Pinot Noir and whites at higher altitude

Question 5

What are the three most planted black grapes and the five most planted white grapes?

Answer 5

Question 6

Describe the characteristics of Schiava

Answer 6

Group of four varieties that are commonly co-planted

Vigour and high yields - pergola

Pale ruby

Violet, strawberry

Low tannin, light-med body

May be blended with Lagrein to add colour and body

Question 7

Describe the characteristics of Lagrein

Answer 7

Need warmth and sunshine

Can suffer from poor fruit set - yields

Can be bitter if too much extraction

Deep colour for either reds or rose

Question 8

Outline typical winemaking (6)

Answer 8

• Preserve fruit aromas
• Low-mid temp 12-15c
• Cultured yeast
• SST
• Some lees ageing 4-6mnths for better wines, up to a year
• Barrel ageing for top reds and whites

Question 9

Under DOC rules, what categories of wine can there be? (3)

Answer 9

Bianco - Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, no single variety >70%

Single variety, >85%

Two variety blends with >15% of each

Question 10

Are max yields higher or lower in Alto-Adige cf. Trentino?

Answer 10

Lower but still high 90 hL/ha

Question 11

Describe the average vineyard holding and which sort of producers dominate?

Answer 11

1ha per grower

Co-ops = 70% of production

Estates are important for HQ wines but are small

Question 12

Where is wine sold?

Answer 12

75% domestic - 1/2 of that sold within the region via tourism

25% export - Germany and US