North-East Italy - Trentino (Alto Adige)

Question 1

Trentino-Alto Adige regions are influenced by what heritage?

Answer 1

Austrian

Question 2

What is Trentino’s main language?

Answer 2

Italian

Question 3

What is Aldo Adige’s main language?

Answer 3

German

Question 4

Where is the Trentino-Alto Adige region?
River?

Answer 4

In the foothills of the Alps, centred around town of Bolzano on the plain of the River Po

Question 5

Where is most of the viticulture in Trentino-Alto Adige?

Answer 5

predominantly on the lower slopes/terraces of the hills, south west and south east facing sides of River Adige

Question 6

Trentino produces mostly what style of white wines?
What red wines does Trentino produce?

Answer 6

Unoaked, fresh, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Müller Thurgau
Teroldego, Merlot and Marzemino

Question 7

What is the quality of wines from Trentino?

Answer 7

Good to v good, inexpensive to mid-priced
Some premium to super-premium

Question 8

What % of wines is produced by co-operatives?

Answer 8

80%

Question 9

What is the growing environment in Trentino?

Answer 9

Trentino has a moderate, continental climate with cooling influences
Daytime summer temps can be high due to protection of mountains against cold north winds

Question 10

What helps moderate the temperature in Trentino?

Answer 10

Lake Garda to the South plus heat building up on the valley floor during growing season

Question 11

What are the day/night temperatures effect?

Answer 11

Hi Diurnal range due to cold air descending from mountains at night - helps retain acidity and prolong growing season and allows flavours to intensify

Question 12

Harvest in Trentino?

Answer 12

Vineyards on higher/steeper slopes require work by hand incl harvesting

Question 13

What is the split between white/red grapes %?

Answer 13

75% white, 25% black

Question 14

Yields?

Answer 14

Max yields are high up to 100 hL/ha

Question 15

What international grapes are grown in Trentino?

Answer 15

Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurtz.

Question 16

Describe the red grapes grown in Trentino

Answer 16

1) Teroldego
MERLOT
2) Marzemino
3) Lagrein
4) Moscato Rosa

Question 17

Describe Teroldego grape
How is it trained?
Where do the best wines from from?
What are the soils?
What is it bottled as?

Answer 17

Most common black variety in Trentino
Historically trained on Pergola (hi yields)
Quality-minded growers now use Guyot
Best wines from Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
Sandy and gravelly soils in far north Trentino
Vini delle Dolomiti IGT

Question 18

Describe the Marzemino grape
Where do the best, ripest wines come from?
What is the soil?

Answer 18

Black variety, prone to botrytis bunch rot and p. mildew
Ziresi subzone
Rich calcareous/clay and basalt soils

Question 19

Describe the Lagrein grape

Answer 19

Needs a warm site, lots of sunshine to ripen
Low yields due to poor fruit set
Often used for Rosé due to deep colour

Question 20

Describe Moscato Rosa

Answer 20

Member of Moscato family
rose-scented sweet wines
Either late harvest or appassimento method.
Premium priced

Question 21

Describe Nosiola

Answer 21

White grape
grown in Valley of the Lakes
Small volume distinctive wines with hazelnut flavour
Also made in semi-dried fruit version - Vino Sant, premium priced
dry wine mid-priced

Question 22

How are white wines made in Trentino?

Answer 22

Soft pressing, S/S fermentation at low temp (12-16℃)
Brief time on lees, fruitiness retained
Top whites aged in small oak = vanilla and spice notes

Question 23

How are red wines made in Trentino?

Answer 23

Two styles
1) Fresh & fruity, med tannins, med body
maceration on skins during fermentation 5-7 days
moderate fermentation temp 17-20℃
aged in S/S or old neutral oak
2) Premium reds
Additional maceration after warm fermentation (26-32℃)
Proportion aged in new oak.
Med+ to intense fruit flavours, additional layer of vanilla and sweet spice oak

Question 24

Describe Pinot Grigio wine made in Trentino

Answer 24

made in a dry style
light to med body
high acidity
citrus and green fruit flavours

Question 25

Describe Pinot Grigio/Gris grape

Answer 25

early budding and early ripening when left on the vine it can accumulate high sugar levels, but lose acidity French style is dry/off dry with oily texture, ripe tropical fruits and hint of ginger

Question 26

Which other countries produce Pinot Gris

Answer 26

,New Zealand Tasmania, Australia, Oregon, USA

Question 27

Which region produces the richest Pinot Grigio in Italy?

Answer 27

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 28

Where can Pinot Grigio delle Venezia DOC be grown?

Answer 28

Grapes for Pinot Grigio delle Venezie must be grown in Veneto, Friuli-Venezia and Trentino, but not Alto-Adige

Question 29

Wine Laws - what does Trentino DOC allow in terms of wine style?

Answer 29

1. Bianco (80% chardonnay) 2. Rosso (cab sav, cab franc, Carmenère, merlot) 3. Single Variety wines (min 85% of named variety) 4. Two variety blends 5, Rosé aka Rosato or Kretzer

Question 30

What % of business do co-ops account for in Trentino?

Answer 30

80%

Question 31

who is the largest Co-Op in Trentino?

Answer 31

Cavit