Alto-Adige 2 Flashcards
What does the term “Dunkel” mean?
Dark
Terlano/Terlaner is a subzone of which appellation?
Alto Adige / Südtirol
What is the historic grape of the subzone Santa Maddalena of Alto Adige DOC?
Schiava
What is another name for Schiava?
Vernatsch
What is the most widely planted red grape in Alto Adige?
Schiava
What are the three main valleys of Alto Adige?
Venosta
Isarco
Adige
Until WW2, Alto Adige belonged to what former dynasty?
The Austrian House of Habsburg
Kerner is a cross between which two grapes?
Riesling x Schiava
What does the term “Kretzer” mean?
Rosato style in Alto Adige
What are the three main biotypes of Schiava?
Grossa
Grigia
Gentile
With which admin region is Alto Adige a part?
Trentino-Alto Adige
But it is Autonomous and separate from Trentino
Who has the strongest administrative powers of the 5 autonomous regions in Italy?
Alto Adige
A country within a country
How long has Alto Adige been part of South Tyrol or Südtirol?
Since 12th and still considers itself Südtirol
Trentino was forced in
Alto Adige is more aligned with what mindset?
German mindset
What type of wines are traditional in Alto Adige?
Light red wines were traditional
Slowly white wine are replacing them
Soils & Climate is perfect for whites
Reputation for Alto Adige wines?
Best practices
Clean
Well made
Consistent style and quality
Who was the tribe that introduced vines to AA?
Rhaeti
One of the oldest growing regions in Europe
What did the Rhaeti use to storage and transport wine?
Wooden barrels
After fall of Rome, who revived viticulture?
11th c AD, monks reintroduced winegrowing
What happened in the 12-13th c AD?
County of Tyrol took over AA
Tyrol got sucked into Hapsburgs
What is the principal language?
German
Where is AA?
NE Italian Alps and Italy’s most northern winegrowing area
What borders AA?
Austria to the North
Switzerland & Lombardia (W)
Trentino (S)
Veneto (E)
What is the capital of AA
Bolzano/Bozen
What is the topography of AA?
15% is farmable
Mostly mountains
Alps on North
Dolemites on East
What is the climate of AA?
Mountains protect from Northerly cold winds
What is largely planted on valley floors?
Apples
General Soil types for AA
Variety
Hillside - poor, weathered, eroded gravel-sands
Valley - Alluvial, fertile
What are the 5 soil groupings for AA
- Volcanic porphyry, clay, sand
- Weathered Schist, gneiss and slate (mica, quartz)
- Limestone and Dolomite
- Sandy marl
- Sandy soils
What AA grapes prefer warm, alluvial, gravelly-sandy soils?
Lagrein & Schiava
What AA grapes prefer soil rich in Lime?
Gewürztraminer
What AA grapes prefer gravelly terraced slopes?
Sauvignon
What AA grapes prefer weathered rocky soils (mica and quartz)
Sylvaner
What type of climate is AA?
Deep in the Alps, it is not fully Alpine climate Moderating Med climate AA is Continental Lake Garda adds influence Meso climates
What is the climate of Bolzano?
In summer one of Italy’s hottest places
Mountains are heat trap
Good for red grapes
AA’s Northern Valley climate?
Isarco/Eisak & Venosta/Vinschgau are cooler
Ideal for white grapes
What is the driest area in Alto Adige?
Val Venosta/Vinschgau
Bolzano soils
Volcanic Porphyry
Bass Atesina/Unterland soils
Limestone and Dolomite
Venosta Valley/Vinschgau soils
Sandy, infertile soils
Isarco Valley/Eisaktal soils
Weathered Schist, gneiss and slate
What type of grape dominates plantings in AA?
Once was red, but international whites introduced and now 60% white and 70% of that is international (Pinot Grigio, Gewurt, Chardonnay, SavBlanc, Pinot Bianco
What are the top AA red grapes?
- Schiava & Lagrein combine for 60% of red planted or 1/3 of total
Pinot Nero is 3rd
Describe Schiava
AA since 13th c Traditional Mostly varietal & everyday wine Approachable, delicate Light Color/Body Fresh Acid/Low Tannin
What does Schiava mean?
Not a single variety It's a group sharing common characteristics 1. Grossa 2. Gentile 3. Grigia
What is the most widely planted of the Schiava group?
Schiava Grossa
Usually co-planted with others
Grossa dominates any blends
What is Schiava called in AA and in Germany?
Vernatsch
Trollinger
Describe Lagrein
Offspring of Teroldego Not easy to grow Poor flowering Irregular yields Late ripening Needs warmth & sun
What grape has one of the highest anthocyanin in all of Italy?
Lagrein
What are the red wines of Lagrein?
Dark Color
Scuro/Dunkel = dark
Rosatos are labels Kretzer
What is Kretzer?
A Lagrein rosato
Describe AA Pinot Nero
Blauburgunder Pinot Noir 7% of AA plantings Bassa Atesina thrives on west-facing slopes Adige River Best of Italian Pinot Neros
What is the second most planted grape in AA?
Pinot Grigio
What is the 3rd most popular grape planted in AA?
Gerwürztraminer
What is typical of Gerwürztraminer in AA
High ABV
Rich Texture
Are Fresher, Less Heavy
Less Opulent
Where is Gerwürztraminer historic home?
Bassa Atesina
around Termeno & Cortaccia town
Traminer v Gewùrztraminer?
Town of Traminer Traminer parent of Gerwt Pale less aromatic Traminer no longer grown in AA SavBlanc & Gewt parent Sovuignon Rose
What are Gewürztraminer parents?
Traminer or Sauvignon Blanc
Where is Gewürztraminer home?
Town of Tramin (Termeno) but the grape was actually Traminer Gewürztraminer’s parent
Bassa Atesina/Unterland
What is Traminer?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is Gewürztraminer?
Sauvignon Rosé
Is Traminer still grown in Alto Adige?
No
What is Pinot Bianco known?
Weißburgunder Grown since 1850 in AA