D4.C14. Trentodoc

Question 1

What is Trentodoc?

Answer 1

Trentodoc is the trademarked name for bottle-fermented sparkling wine made from the classic Champagne varieties (especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) grown in the Trentino

Question 2

Who is the pioneer of traditional method sparkling wines in Italy?

Answer 2

Giulio Ferrari is credited with making the first traditional method sparkling wine with Chardonnay grapes in Italy in 1902, having visited the Champagne area

Question 3

Which grape varieties can be used to produce Trentodoc?

Answer 3

• Chardonnay (many od the wines are 100% Chardonnay)
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Blanc
• Meunier

Question 4

Tasting notes for Trentodoc

Answer 4

• Ripe apple fruit
• Biscuit-like, autolytic notes
• Medium alcohol balanced by medium (+) to high acidity

Question 5

What is the quality/price range for Trentodoc?

Answer 5

• Very good to outstanding in quality
• Premium and super-premium prices

Question 6

What is the climate of Trentodoc?

Answer 6

Warm continental

Question 7

What are the modifying factors for the climate in Trentodoc?

Answer 7

• High daytime summer temperatures because of
  the mountains offering protection from cold winds coming from the north and heat building up
  on the valley floor between the high mountains during the growing season
• Cold air descending from the mountains at night, creating a high diurnal range

Question 8

What are the common properties of the soils found in Trentodoc region?

Answer 8

Soils in general are stony and well drained and become poorer in nutrients on the steeper slopes, all contributing to slow steady growth

Question 9

What is the altitude range for the vineyards in Trentodoc?

Answer 9

400-700 m

Question 10

Why is the harvest 2 weeks later in Trentodoc than in Franciacorta?

Answer 10

Due to the elevations, the fruit takes longer to ripen

Question 11

Why is the vineyard management costly in Trentodoc?

Answer 11

Working on the hillsides and steep slopes adds considerable extra cost, as most work has to be done by hand

Question 12

What are the preferred training systems in Trentodoc?

Answer 12

• Sloping vineyards: Guyot
• On the steeper, terraced vineyards: Pergola system

Question 13

What is the planting density in Trentodoc?

Answer 13

4500-6000 plants per hectare

Question 14

How does the site selection change for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Trentodoc?

Answer 14

• Chardonnay: Planted on cooler sites (for longer, cooler ripening)
• Pinot Noir: On the warmer south- and south-east facing slopes

Question 15

What are the viticultural hazards that can be seen in Trentodoc?

Answer 15

• Spring frost: In the lowest slopes and valley floor
• Downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis

Question 16

When does the harvest start in Trentodoc?

Answer 16

Early September

Question 17

What is the maximum yield allowed in Trentodoc?

Answer 17

105 hL/ha

Question 18

What are the common winemaking choices in Trentodoc?

Answer 18

• First fermentation in stainless steel tanks
• Malolactic conversion takes place since acidity is high
• Must be made with traditional method
• Cultured yeasts are common including local strains isolated by the oenology school in the region
• Some companies use small amounts of reserve wines in their non-vintage blends

Question 19

What are the requirements for lees ageing in Trentodoc?

Answer 19

• Minimum ageing on the lees is 15 months, but the common practice is for much longer (20–30 months)
• Vintage wines : 24 months
• Riserva wines: 30 months

Question 20

What is the range of sweetness level for Trentodoc wines?

Answer 20

• Trento and Trento Rosato: Can go from Brut Nature to
  Dolce (though most are Brut)
• Trento Riserva (white and Rosato): May be Brut Nature to Brut only

Question 21

What is the structure of wine business in Trentodoc?

Answer 21

• Numerous small growers
• 54 producers
• 4 companies produce 95% of the sparkling wine

Question 22

What are the 4 main companies that are producing 95% precent of Trentodoc?

Answer 22

• Ferrari: Biggest. Owns 100 hectares and from buys fruit from 500 hectares of the denomination’s 800 hectares
• Rotari (for the Mezzocorona co-operative)
• Altemasi (for the Cavit co-operative)
• Cesarini Sforza, now a part of the La Vis co-operative group

Question 23

How does the sales change for Trentodoc from 2010 to 2019?

Answer 23

Increased from 7m bottles in 2010 to 9m in 2019

Question 24

What are the percentages of domestic market and export for Trentodoc?

Answer 24

• Domestic: 80% (An exception is Cavit, which only sells 35 per cent in Italy with most of its wine going to northern Europe, especially Sweden)
• Export: 20%

Question 25

What is the recent initiative for promoting Trentodoc?

Answer 25

Trentodoc has become a sponsor of the Institute of Masters of Wine

Question 26

When did the Trentodoc trademark created? What does name imply?

Answer 26

• 2007
• The two ‘O’s in the trademarked name are
  designed to be reminiscent of the process of riddling