Wines of Trentino

From Chardonnay to Marzemimo, Teroldego and Merlot: a vast range of DOC wines

Even if Trentino wines are not produced in the Val di Fassa, they still play a vital role in local cuisine – both in the valley and throughout the region. Thanks to its particular conformation and extremely different soil types, the Val d’Adige has been able to offer particular habitats to different varieties of vine. The climate, which is characterised by large-scale temperature changes between day and night during the period in which grapes mature, means that local wines all have their own singular bouquet.

The qualities of wines from Trentino are therefore something quite incredible. The particular nature of the surroundings, which are characterised by areas with climatic features ranging from sub-Mediterranean (Valle dei Laghi, Valle del Sarca) to continental (Vallagarina, Val d’Adige, Piana Rotaliana), and alpine (Val di Cembra), has led to the production of an infinite number of combinations. Stringent and severe production methods, together with efficient and modern product defence and distribution mean that the wines produced are of excellent quality. Trentino’s wine-growing area (approx. 8,700 hectares) has deeply changed in the last decade, favouring the white varieties, which currently represent 50% of harvests. With more than 80% of its vineyards registered in the list of D.O.C. wines, Trentino – together with Alto Adige – is the Italian region with the largest Denominazione di Origine Controllata (Controlled Denomination of Origin) area. In fact, the national average is about 30%.

From the vast vineyards on the hillsides along the banks of the River Adige, where Marzemino is grown, to those of Campo Rotaliano, the home of Teroldego and up into the Val di Cembra, where pergolas of Müller Thurgau grapes are grown up to an altitude of 800 metres: “Trentino Doc” covers numerous types of wine. Local whites include Nosiola and Sorni. International varieties of grape are used to produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio. Other typical whites include Riesling, Müller Thurgau and Traminer. The red varieties include the noblest local grape, Marzemino, as well as Cabernet, Pinot Nero, Merlot and Lagrein. Schiava grapes are used to make Casteller, which has its own denomination. The region’s rich panorama of wines is completed with “meditation wines” such as Moscato Giallo, Moscato Rosa and Vino Santo. Our province can also boast prestigious types of grappa, which are often seasoned with woodland herbs and flavours. This old tradition is closely tied to the wine sector and the special distilling system – together with the use of only the best local marc – has created a product of only the highest quality.

The local sparkling wines are among the most important in Italy and identified with the mark “Trento Doc”, which is accompanied by the word “Talento”, issued by the Istituto Italiano Metodo Classico (a body safeguarding sparkling wines made using the classical champenois method).