TrentoDoc

Question 1

Trentodoc - definition

Answer 1

• Trento DOC: trademarked name for bottle-fermented sparkling wine
  • Made from classic Champagne varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) grown in Trentino, northern Italy
  • Named after Trento, the region’s main town
• Giulio Ferrari: pioneered traditional method sparkling wine with Chardonnay from 1902 (inspired by Champagne)
• Commonly 100% Chardonnay
• Can also include Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Meunier

Question 2

TrentoDoc - style, quality, price

Answer 2

Style:
ripe apple fruit
brioche and/or biscuit-like, autolytic notes
medium alcohol
medium (+) to high acidity
Quality:
typically very good to outstanding
Price:
premium and super-premium

Question 3

Trentodoc Factors affecting temperature / sunlight

Answer 3

• Grapes grown on hillside sites below high mountains, north of Italy, near the Alps
• Warm, continental climate with significant cooling influences
• High daytime summer temps:
  • Mountains protect from cold northern winds
  • Heat builds up in the valley floor between mountains during the growing season
• Higher daytime temps than expected for this latitude and altitude
• High diurnal range:
  • Cold air descends from mountains at night
  • Helps grapes retain acidity, crucial for sparkling wine

Question 4

Trentodoc: water availability and nutrient availability

Answer 4

• Stony, well-drained soils
• Poorer in nutrients on steeper slopes → slow, steady growth
  
  • Results in wines with high flavor intensity

Question 5

Trentodoc: hazards, pests and diseases:

Answer 5

main diseases: mildews and botrytis, depending on weather

lowest slopes and valley floor are susceptible to frost in spring

Question 6

Trentodoc: vineyard establishment

Answer 6

• Vineyards typically at 400–700 m above valley floor, few at higher elevations
  
  • High diurnal range → longer fruit ripening, enhancing flavor intensity + acidity retention
  • Harvest 2 weeks later than Franciacorta
• Steep hillsides add cost (mostly hand labor)
• Trained:
  • Guyot on sloping vineyards
  • Pergola on steeper, terraced vineyards
• Planting density: 4,500–6,000 plants/ha
• Vineyards on slopes, typically at 400–700 m above valley floor, few higher
• High diurnal range → longer ripening, enhances flavor + acidity
• Chardonnay on cooler sites for longer, cooler ripening
• Pinot Noir on warmer south/south-east slopes

Question 7

Trentodoc: Considerations in planting materials

Answer 7

Chardonnay planted on cooler sites (for longer, cooler ripening)

Pinot Noir on the warmer south- and south-east facing slopes.

Question 8

Trentodoc: canopy management, harvest

Answer 8

• Trained:
  • Guyot on sloping vineyards
  • Pergola on steeper, terraced vineyards
• Planting density: 4,500–6,000 plants/ha
• Vineyards on slopes, typically at 400–700 m above valley floor, few higher
• High diurnal range → longer ripening, enhances flavor + acidity
• Harvest 2 weeks later than Franciacorta, starts early September
• Picking based on acidity (e.g. pH 3.2)
• Yields limited to 105 hL/ha, many producers crop lower

Question 9

Trentodoc: Managing hazards, managing pests and diseases

Answer 9

main diseases: mildews and botrytis, depending on weather

lowest slopes and valley floor are susceptible to frost in spring

Question 10

Trentodoc: winemaking:

Answer 10

• DOC regulations: Wines must be made by traditional method
• Pressing: Yields limited to 105 hL/ha, many producers crop lower
• Fermentation vessel: Stainless steel (SS)
• Primary fermentation: Cultured yeasts, including local strains isolated by regional oenology school
• Malolactic conversion: Occurs due to higher acidity than Franciacorta
• Blending: Some use reserve wines in non-vintage blends
• Secondary fermentation:
  • NV: Min. 15 months on lees, often 20–30 months for toasty notes
  • Vintage: Min. 24 months on lees
  • Riserva: Min. 36 months on lees, often 5–10 years
• Longer lees aging increases production cost
• Dosage:
  • Trento/Trento Rosato: Brut Nature to Dolce (most are Brut)
  • Trento Riserva (white + Rosato): Brut Nature to Brut only

Question 11

Trentodoc Labelling:

Answer 11

• NV: Min. 15 months on lees, often 20–30 months for toasty notes
• Vintage: Min. 24 months on lees
• Riserva: Min. 36 months on lees, often 5–10 years
• Longer lees aging increases production cost

Question 12

Trentodoc Sweetness

Answer 12

Trento and Trento Rosato: from Brut Nature to Dolce (most are Brut)

Trento Riserva (white and Rosato): Brut Nature to Brut only

Question 13

Trentooc players:

Answer 13

• 54 producers, numerous small growers
• 4 companies produce 95% of sparkling wine
  • Ferrari: Largest producer, makes wine from own 100 hectares + 500 hectares purchased from 800 total in denomination
• 2 major co-operatives with sparkling wine brands:
  • Rotari (Mezzocorona co-operative)
  • Altemasi (Cavit co-operative)
• Cesarini Sforza: 4th largest, now part of La Vis co-operative group

Question 14

Trentodoc Sales:

Answer 14

• Production increased from 7M bottles in 2010 to 9.3M in 2019
• Trentodoc focuses mainly on the Italian market (80% of sales)
  • Exception: Cavit sells only 35% in Italy, most in northern Europe

Question 15

Trentodoc marketing

Answer 15

• Recently promoting Trentodoc in export markets
• Sponsor of the Institute of Masters of Wine to raise global trade awareness
• Trentodoc trademark created in 2007
  • The two ‘O’s in the name symbolize the riddling process