Italy - Trentino-Alto Adige

Question 1

What varieties are permitted in Trentino DOC?

Answer 1

Can be made from many varieties, international and local. They can be:
• Bianco (minimum 80% Chard and/or Pinot Bianco)
• Rosso (single variety or blends of Cab Sauv, Franc, Carmenere or Merlot)
• Single varietal wines (minimum 85% of the variety)
• Two variety blends from a shorter list of varieties, eg, for white wines, 50-75% of one of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Grigio or Sauv B, plus the remainder of one of these varieties.
• Rosé. Also called Rosato or Kretzer.

Question 2

What other DOCs are there in Trentino?

Answer 2

DOCs for sweet wines.
The Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC is available in Trentino but not Alto-Adige.
Certain important sub zones can appear on labels in conjunction with DOC Trentino, eg, Val di Cembra.

Question 3

How much of Alto-Adige production is DOC? What varieties and styles are permitted?

Answer 3

98%, they’re very proud of this fact.
The DOC is used for the typical range of varieties grown in the province.
11 whites and 7 blacks are permitted.
The wines can be:
• Bianco (minimum 75% Chard, Pinot Bianco or Grigio, two of these must be present, but no single variety can exceed 70%). There is no corresponding Rosso category.
• Single varietal wines (minimum 85%)
• Two variety blends, eg, Chard-Bianco or Cabernet-Lagrein. In which both varieties must be more than 15%.

Question 4

What else can feature on the label of Alto-Adige DOC?

Answer 4

One of the six subzones. The largest is Alto Adige Valle Isarco (mostly white).
The separate Lago di Caldaro DOC is devoted to Schiava.

Question 5

How do yields of Alto-Adige compare to Trentino?

Answer 5

Slightly lower, eg whites are around 90hL/ha.