CH16 NE IT Flashcards
What regions are considered as part of NE IT?
Trentino-Alto Adige ( 1 region administratively, but really 2 wine regions)
Fruiti-Venezia Giulia
Veneto
What is noteworthy about the influences on the Trentino-Alto Adige region?
Both are influenced by an Austrian heritage
Became part of IT in 1919 (~1 century ago)
Today, Trentino is predominantly IT language speaking
Alto-Adige is primarily German language (although IT names used for this book)
What other name is Alto Adige known as?
- Südtirol
Where is Trentino-Alto Adige located?
NE IT
In foothills of the Alps
Where are the vineyards generally in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Viticulture is primarily in the lower slopes of the Alps
Fruit, especially apples, is grown on the plains between the mountains
What are the main grapes/ wines of Trentino?
Produces mainly whites — un-oaked, fresh, PG, Chard and Müller Thurgau
Reds from Teroldego, Merlot, and Marzemino —
Good to VG, $ to $$
Some O, $$$ to $$$$
What % of Trentino wine is co-op?
Just over 80%
Production levels have remained stable over last 10 yr
Describe the climate of Trentino?
Moderate continental w/ cooling influences
Daytime Summer temps can be high due to
Mountains blocking cold N winds
Moderating presence of Lake Garda to S
Heat build up from valley floor
Cold nights allow retained acidity and prolong growing season, allowing flavors to intensity
What is the breakdown of Red to White grapes in Trentino?
White = ~75%
Red = ~ 25%
What are the max yields in Trentino
Max yields depend on variety
Generally whites ~100 hL/ha
Reds ~90 hL/ha
How many white and black varieties does the overarching Trentino DOC allow to be bottled as single variety?
Ten (10) white
Nine (9) Black
What are the main varieties grown in Trentino?
Which are most important?
Int’l varieties widely grown
PG, Chard, Müller-Thurgau, PB, Riesling, SB, Gewürz
Merlot, CS, CF, PN
Larger volumes are represented by PG & Chard that together represent ~50% of ha planted
What local varieties are important to Trentino?
Teroldego
Marzemino
Lagrien
All are closely related
Give a top-level overview of the important local varieties grown in Trentino
Key aroma/flavor(s)
Ripening
Vigor
Wine color
Tannins
Quality & price
Teroldego — black cherry
Marzemino — red cherry
Lagrein — red cherry & black plum
All are…
Vigorous
Mid- to late-ripening
Deep color
M tannins
G to VG, $ to $$
What is the most common black grape variety in Trentino?
Teraldego
How is Teroldego typically trained?
Historically trained on pergolas for high yields
Now, Quality-minded growers are also using Guyot
What Susceptibilities does Teroldego have?
Can suffer from drying out of stems
Less susceptible to mildews than Marzemino and Lagrein
What are the best clones for Teroldego?
- Clones 145 and 152, for their intense aromas
Where are the best Teroldego wines grown?
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC in the far N of Trentino
Sandy and gravelly soils
How can Teroldego be labeled? What is a notable DOC under which it cannot be labeled?
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
Vini delle Dolomiti IGT (which covers both Trentino & Alto Adige)
Notably, despite being the #1 black grape of the area, it cannot be labeled as Trentino DOC
How is Marzemino typically trained?
What susceptibilities?
Historically trained on pergolas, newer, lower yielding clones are trained on spurred cordons
Prone to botrytis bunch rot and powdery mildew
Where does the best Marzemino come from ?
Why?
Ziresi subzone of Trentino DOC
Full sun exposure, rich calcareous/ clay and basalt soils
Describe Lagrien
red cherry & black plum
Needs warm site & lots of sun to ripen
Can have poor fruit set = low yields
Bitterness and harshness on finish addressed by shorter maceration times and oak aging
Deep color, so is used in rosé as well as red
How are reds and rosés made from Lagrein labeled?
can be labeled in either Italian or German
Lagrein rubino/dunkel for red
Lagrein rosato/kretzer for rosé
Describe Moscato Rosa
Member of Moscato family
Used to make rose scented sweet wines
Difficult to grow due to poor fruit set and botrytis
How are Moscato Rosa wines typically made?
Rose-scented sweet wine
Appassimento method or late harvest fruit
Describe Nosiola
white grape grown in the Valley of the Lakes
Warmest area of Trentino w/ a sub-continental climate
Small volume of distinctive white wines w/ light hazelnut flavor (from the fruit, not the oak)
Also made into a semi-dried fruit version, called Vino Santo (not Vin Santo)
Describe white winemaking in Trentino
soft pressing
Fermenting juice in SS at low temps (12-16C/ 54-61F) to retain primary fruit
May be briefly aged on lees
Released promptly for fruitiness
Some top whites may be aged in small oak barrels, a small % new for added layer of vanilla & spice
Describe red winemaking in Trentino
2 styles
Fresh fruity style (most) w/ M tannins & body
Maceration on skins during alcoholic ferment (5-7 days)
Moderate ferment temps (17-20C/ 63-68F)
Briefly aged in SS or old, neutral wood casks
MINORITY premium
Go through a period of maceration after alcoholic ferment (add’l 7-14 days)
Warm ferment temps (26-32C/ 79-90F)
Typically aged in sm oak barrels w/ sm % new
M+ to intense fruit flavors + add’l layer vanilla & sweet spice
What are the key rules around wine made in Trentino DOC?
Bianco (min 80% Chard &/or PB)
Rosso (single variety or blends of CS, CF, Carmenere, Merlot)
Single variety wines, min 85% named variety
2 variety blends from shorter lists of varieties; Ex: for whites, 50-75% of Chard, PB, PG or SB plus remainder of one of these
Rosé, also called Rosato or Kretzer
Additionally, there are DOCs for sweet wines
Certain important sub-zones can appear on label w/ Trentino DOC
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC (which crosses w/ Veneto)
What is the average ha holding in Trentino?
What % is Co-op?
Notable producer and %
avg 1.2 ha holding
Co-ops >80%
Cavit is largest producer at 60% (a consortium of 10 co-ops)
Describe Cavit
Consortium of 10 co-ops spread around Trentino
60% of all wine produced in the province
Processes fruit of 4500 growers
Exports 80%
Where is Alto-Adige?
NE IT
Lower slopes of the Dolomites
What are the key grapes of Alto-Adige?
Pale red Schiava
Mostly int’l varieties such as…
PG
Gewurztraminer (here regarded as a local variety, the village of Tramin is in the province)
Chard
PB
PN
SB
What is the general quality level and price of wines of Alto-Adige?
Mostly G to VG
Mostly $ to $$
Some wines are VG to O and $$ to $$$ — especially PN
What is the breakdown of red vs white wines in Alto-Adige?
- whites 60%, reds 40%
Describe the climate of Alto-Adige
Mild Alpine continental climate
Protected by cold winds by the mountains to the N
Warm air currents in the valleys
Nearly 300 days sunshine
Large diurnal day/night temp differentials = good conditions for ripening and retaining acidity
Sufficient rainfall spread thru yr w/ low amount in winter, sometimes a concern at harvest
Describe the terroir of Alto Adige
Mild Alpine continental climate
Vines typically grown btw 300-700m
Large variety of soils: volcanic porphyry, quartz and mica rock, and Dolomitic limestone (good for a range of varieties)
What are the typical vine training systems in Alto Adige
Traditional pergola
Guyot
What are the 2 largest “growing zones” (not technically sub-zones) of Alto Adige?
Bassa Atesina in ste S, w/ warmer climate
Oltradige, including Lake Caldaro area
Describe Bassa Atesina
one of 2 largest “growing zones” in Alto Adige (other is Oltradige)
In the South of Alto Adige
All the main varieties (PG, Gewurz, PB, Chard, Lagrein, PN) are grown except Sciava
Müller Thurgau is grown at high altitude
Describe Oltradige
one of the 2 largest “growing zones” in Alto Adige (other is Bassa Atesina)
Includes the Lake Caldera area for Schiava, w/ Merlot and CS in the Valleys
PN and white varieties at higher altitudes
What is the #1 variety in Alto Adige
Schiava, also known by GER name Vernatsch
4 separate varieties have been ID’d but normally grown and vinified together
How is Schiava typically trained in Alto Adige?
Typically Pergola, to cope w/ their natural vigor, and the vines produce high yields
Describe Schiava wines
pale ruby
Perfumed violet and strawberry
M to light body
Low tannins
Describe the typical WHITE winemaking in Alto Adige
Emphasis on preserving fruit aromas/flavors
Low to moderate temps (12-15C/ 54-59F)
Selected yeasts
Aged in SS
Mid-priced kept on lees 4-6 mo to fill out body of wine
Premium wines kept on lees for nearly 1 yr
What % of Alto Adige wines are DOC?
- Proud of fact 98% are DOC
How many varieties are allowed in Alto Adige DOC?
- There are 11 white varieties and 7 black varieties allowed
What rules apply to the styles of Alto Adige DOC wines?
Bianco must be a min 75% Chard, PB or PG — 2 of these must be present but no single variety can exceed 70%
There is no corresponding Rosso category
Single variety wines must be 85% named variety
Two-variety blends, for example Chard-PB or Cab-Legrein, in which both varieties must be >15% of the blend each
Can also label with 1 of the 6 sub-zones such as Alto Adige Valle Isarco (mostly whites)
Lago di Caldaro DOC is devoted to Schiava
What are the max yields in Alto Adige? How does this compare to Trentino?
Max for whites is 90 hL/ha (compared to 100 in Trentino)
“Allowed yields are slightly lower than in Trentino” (not listed for red)
What is the average vineyard holding in Alto Adige?
Implications?
Typically very small, on average 1 ha/ grower
Co-ops are very important — account for 70% of production, including some high quality wines
Even larger estates have limited ha (50-60) so have to make mid- and premium-priced wines
Name a couple of better-known private estates of Alto Adige
Alois Lageder
Elena Walch
Name a couple of top co-ops in alto Adige
Cantina Kaltern (largest winery in the province)
Cantina di Tramin
What % of Alto Adige wines are exported? How much stays within Alto Adige?
Where is it mainly sold (channels)?
Most important export markets?
Mainly sold in IT - 75%
Of that, just under half stays in the province
Focus on whites and aromatic varieties
Important for tourist biz, so most important sales sector is hospitality, then specialist wine shops
Only a small % goes to supermarkets
Most important export markets are GER and USA