Il Trentino Alto Adige, synonym for breathtaking landscapes with undulating plateaus and vast apple orchards, has always been renowned for its wines, a longstanding Italian excellence. The contours of this region evoke a passion for vines.
The renowned Trentino wines include:
Index:
- Vineyards
- Wines
- Cavit: Tradition and Innovation
- Bottega Vinai Chardonnay Trentino
- Bottega Vinai Gewurztraminer
Vineyards
Vineyards cover nearly half of the agricultural land in Trentino, with the most fertile area along the Adige River.
Vineyards:
- 41% are situated on hills
- 39% in the valley
- 20% on steep mountain slopes
The pergola trentina is the most common training system, allowing grape clusters to benefit from the positive effects of sunlight and warmth.
However, new plantings often employ the vertical trellis system, balancing the risk of shading with ease of cultivation.
Wines
The key players in Trentino viticulture are Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.
Chardonnay is used in the production of classic method sparkling wines, Trento DOC. These sparkling wines are fresh, exhibiting mineral notes, accompanied by hints of yeast, bread crust, golden apple, and exotic fruit.
Additionally, Chardonnay produces excellent still wines, enriched with unique palate notes through aging in large barrels or barriques.
Pinot Grigio is typically vinified as a white wine, occasionally as a rosé. Wines from this grape express aromas of pear, apple, pineapple, freshly cut grass, and white and yellow flowers.
Increasingly popular are Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau. Gewürztraminer wines have intense scents of rosewater, citrus, white flowers, spices, mint, and cloves. They are soft on the palate.
Müller Thurgau, a cross between Riesling and Chasselas created by Herman Müller, offers wines that are quite soft, harmonious, and rounded, with a slightly sweet sensation.
Discover the exquisite Riesling cultivated in the dry and breezy climates of Alto Adige. This Riesling boasts a rich and captivating aromatic profile, ranging from citrus notes to hints of hawthorn, all complemented by a delicate touch of honey. On the palate, experience the Riesling’s dry, crisp, and clean flavor, delivering a sense of elegance and finesse.
Cavit: Tradition and Innovation
A symbol of excellence in Trentino, Cavit is a renowned winery. Cavit, short for Cantina Viticoltori del Trentino, is located in the heart of Trentino, in Ravina di Trento. It’s a cooperative that brings together 11 Trentino social wineries, representing over 60% of the vineyard area in Trentino with more than 5,250 associated winemakers.
The company receives, examines, and selects raw materials from associated wineries, controlling every production phase from harvest to marketing.
With over seventy years of activity, Cavit has developed unique expertise, combining technological innovation and scientific research with a wine approach that balances tradition, innovation, and environmental respect.
Cavit’s mission has always been to make quality wine an everyday pleasure. Therefore, all Group wines are known for their excellent quality-to-price ratio, appreciated by a broad consumer audience worldwide.
Two wines, emblematic of Cavit’s excellence, are the Bottega Vinai Chardonnay Trentino and the Bottega Vinai Gewurztraminer.
Bottega Vinai Chardonnay Trentino
Production Area
Situated in the hills of Santa Margherita di Ala in Vallagarina and the Valley of Lakes north of Lake Garda.
Vineyards in Santa Margherita have ancient conoid-shaped terrain with shallow, gravel-rich brown soils.
Meanwhile, Valley of Lakes vineyards are on moderately deep, alluvial soils with a gravelly, loamy-clay matrix.
Both regions share a sub-Mediterranean climate.
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Winemaking
Hand-harvested grapes undergo immediate crushing and destemming. The must and skins are cooled at low temperatures, allowing them to macerate for about five hours to extract aromas optimally.
The grape processing continues with a soft pressing of the pulp and skins to obtain the must, which ferments partially in French oak barrels and partially in stainless steel.
Maturity
After maturing on lees (30% in French oak barrels, 70% in stainless steel), the wine is cold-bottled and undergoes bottle refinement before commercialization.
Organoleptic Characteristics
A straw-yellow white wine with greenish reflections.
Intense and rich aroma with hints of yellow apple, apricot, and pineapple. Subtle, alluring pastry notes from barrel aging.
Full and enveloping taste; well-balanced with a rich, persistent aftertaste.
Pairings
Ideal with salmon, mushroom risottos, seafood spaghetti, and baked sea fish. Serving temperature: 12–14 °C.
Bottega Vinai Gewurztraminer
Production Area
Sunny hills of Roveré della Luna and the Adige Valley north of Trento at altitudes between 250 and 400 meters above sea level.
Roverè della Luna vineyards are on an ancient conoid with brown, shallow, gravel-rich soils.
On the other hand, high Adige Valley vineyards are on glacial deposits (moraines and conoids) with various rocks and pebbles, providing moderately deep, sandy-loamy soils.
The climate is sub-continental, featuring cold, often snowy winters and hot summers with significant day-night temperature variations, favoring the production of highly aromatic wines with fresh scents and flavors.
Grapes: 100% Traminer
Winemaking
Hand-picked and carefully selected fully ripe grapes undergo destemming and crushing.
The resulting must remains in contact with the skins briefly at a temperature of 5-6 °C to extract aromas. Pressing is done with caution to avoid excessive color extraction.
Maturity
After fermentation in stainless steel at a temperature not exceeding 20 °C, the wine matures in tanks for 4-5 months before bottling.
Organoleptic Characteristics
Bright golden yellow color with brilliant reflections indicates great consistency.
Intense and rich aroma with highly pronounced tea rose notes and subtle hints of spices like thyme and juniper.
Elegant and structured on the palate, almost creamy, with a rich aftertaste that lingers, recalling scents of dried rose, apricot, and pineapple.
Pairings
Excellent with savory pies, fish-based appetizers, sauces, and first courses with vegetables or second courses of fish and white meats. Serving temperature: 12-14°C.
Amo la buona cucina e le tradizioni enogastronomiche italiane, per me vino e dessert non sono solo un contorno ma la parte più interessante del buon vivere.
