Trentino - Alto Adige Flashcards

1
Q

When did Trentino and Alto Adige become part of Italy?

A

The area was annexed from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1919 as a condition of the Treaty of London following World War I.

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2
Q

What languages are spoken in Trentino-Alto Adige?

A

Italian is the predominant language in Trentino, though in Alto Adige still teaches German as a first language.

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3
Q

Where is Trentino-Alto Adige located? Where does fruit farming take place?

A

The area is in the Alpine foothills of Northeastern Italy. Alto Adige is on the southern border of Austria and Liechtenstein.

Orchards (esp. apples) are predominantly found in the mountains with grape vines planted on the lower slopes of the hills.

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4
Q

What is an alternative name for Alto Adige?

A

Südtirol, or South Tyrol

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5
Q

Is Trentino-Alto Adige known for producing wines from international or indigenous varieties? Varietal wines or blends?

A

The region typically produces varietal wines from both autochthonous and international varieties.

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6
Q

What types of wines are made in Trentino? What varieties are common?

A

White wines are dominant, typically made from Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Müller-Thurgau.

Red wines from Teroldego, Merlot, and Marzemino are also produced.

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7
Q

What is the typical quality and pricing of Trentino wines?

A

Good to very good and inexpensive to mid priced, though some producers make very good to outstanding wines that run in the premium to super premium range.

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8
Q

What percentage of wines from Trentino are made by cooperatives?

A

80%

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9
Q

What is the climate in Trentino? Why?

A

Moderate continental.

  • The alps provide protection from cool northerly winds,
  • Lake Garda provides a moderating effect on the region, and heat builds up in the valley floor during the daytime.
  • Cool air descends the mountains at night, creating a high diurnal range.
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10
Q

What encourages a long growing season in Trentino?

A

The high diurnal range caused by cold air descending the Alps at night, enabling the grapes to retain acidity and increase aromatic complexity.

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11
Q

What are the most planted varieties in Trentino (in order)?

A
Pinot Grigio
Chardonnay
Müller-Thurgau
Teroldego
Merlot
Marzemino
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12
Q

What percentage of plantings in Trentino are comprised of white grapes?

A

75%

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13
Q

How many varieties are permitted in Trentino DOC to be bottled as varietal wines?

A

10 white varieties as white wine

9 black varieties as red wine

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14
Q

Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay represent how much of Trentino’s hectares under vine?

A

About 50%

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15
Q

What are the maximum yields permitted in Trentino DOC?

A

Around 100 hL/ha for whites, 90 hL/ha for reds

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16
Q

What are the principle indigenous varieties to Trentino?

A
Teroldego
Marzemino
Lagrein
Moscato Rosa
Nosiola
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17
Q

Where is Teroldego grown in Trentino? In which DOCs may it be used?

A

Teroldego is grown throughout Trentino but may only be labeled as Teroldego Rotaliano DOC or as Vini del Dolomitti IGP.

It cannot be labeled as Trentino DOC.

Who knows why.

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18
Q

How may Teroldego grown in Trentino but outside of the approved DOCs be labelled?

A

Vini delle Dolomiti IGT

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19
Q

In what part of Trentino does Marzemino find its best expression? Why?

A

The Ziresi subzone due to the sun exposure, rich basalt and calcareous clay soils

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20
Q

True or False

Lagrein is used in rosé from Trentino due to its deep color

A

True

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21
Q

How can Lagrein wines from Trentino-Alto Adige be labeled?

A

In German or in Italian. Red wines may be Rubino or Dunkel. Rosé wines may be Rosato or Kretzer.

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22
Q

What types of wines are made from Moscato Rosa in Trentino?

A

Sweet wines, either made in the appassimento method or from late harvest fruit

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23
Q

Where in Trentino is Nosiola grown?

A

In the so called “Valley of the Lakes,” not to be confused with the Canadian or Mongolian Valleys of their own respective Lakes.

This area is the warmest sub-continental climate (? Not sure who this is according to but it’s in the book)

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24
Q

What types of wine are produced with Nosiola in Trentino?

A

Dry white wines

Sweet white wines from semi-dried fruit (Vino Santo, not Vin Santo)

25
Q

How are white wines from Trentino typically produced?

A

Soft pressing the grapes, low temperature (12-16°C) fermentation in stainless steel, and maybe a brief period on the lees for complexity before promptly being released.

Some top quality wines may spend time in oak for additional complexity.

26
Q

How are red wines from Trentino typically produced?

A

A fresh and fruity style with 5-7 days of maceration and moderate fermentation temperatures (17-20°C) with brief aging in stainless steel or neutral oak.

Small productions of premium reds will undergo 7-14 day macerations, warm fermentations (26-32°C), and aging in small oak barrels often with a proportion of new oak.

27
Q

What are the principle rules for Trentino DOC wines?

A

So many. Really.

Bianco: 80% min Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco
Rosso: can be varietal or blend of Cab. Sauv, Cab. Franc, Carmenère, and/or Merlot
Varietal
Two varieties: there’s a huge list with different balances/percentages for permitted varieties
Rosé
Subzone

28
Q

What is the average viticultural holding in Trentino?

A

1.2 ha

29
Q

What type of producer is most important to Trentino wine production?

A

Cooperatives are responsible for 80% of all wine production in Trentino.

The largest, Cavit, controls 60% of provincial wine.

30
Q

What percentage of Trentino wine production are small estates responsible for?

A

10%

31
Q

What are the principle denominations under which Trentino wine can be released?

A

Trentino DOC is open to a majority of the varieties planted in the region.

Vini delle Dolomiti IGT is an alternative catchment that some producers use as Trentino DOC permits high yields and may not be promoting quality wines.

32
Q

In which market sectors are the wines of Trentino most successful?

A

The Italian restaurant industry, especially Trentodoc, Müller-Thurgau based wines, and Teroldego Rotaliano DOC.

33
Q

What is the legacy of winemaking in Alto Adige?

A

There has been a viticultural practice in the valleys and lower slopes of the Dolomites for centuries.

34
Q

What types of wine are commonly produced in Alto Adige?

A

Pale red wines made with Schiava

Red wines made from Pinot Noir

White wines made from numerous international varieties

35
Q

What percentage of wines from Alto Adige is white?

A

60%

36
Q

What is the typical quality and pricing of wine from Alto Adige?

A

Good to very good and inexpensive to mid priced

Some wines are outstanding in quality, especially Pinot Noir, and can be mid to premium priced

37
Q

What is the climate in Alto Adige? Why?

A

Mild continental. The Dolomites block northerly cool air, warm air travels through the valleys, and there are nearly 300 days of sunshine a year with large diurnal swings.

38
Q

At what altitude are Alto Adige vines planted?

A

Between 300-700 m ASL

39
Q

Is rainfall an issue in Alto Adige?

A

Drought is not a problem as rainfall is sufficient during the growing season, but can be a problem at harvest

40
Q

What types of soil can be found in Alto Adige?

A

A wide range including porphyry, quartz, mica, and Dolomitic limestone

41
Q

What is prophyry? Why is it significant to Alto Adige?

A

A volcanic rock with coarse grained crystals (i.e. feldpsar, quartz) in a fine grained silicate matrix. It is one of the major soil types found in Alto Adige.

42
Q

What is Dolomitic limestone? Why is it significant to Alto Adige?

A

While typical limestones are calcium carbonate, Dolomitic limestone is a calcium magnesium carbonate. It is harder and less absorbent. It is one of the major soil types of Alto Adige.

43
Q

What training systems are common in Alto Adige?

A

Pergola and Guyot

44
Q

Is green harvesting common in Alto Adige?

A

Yes and has been practiced for a while. It must be more carefully done now due to climate change.

45
Q

What are the two most important growing zones in Alto Adige? What varieties are grown there?

A

Bassa Atesina in the south of the province. All varieties except Schiava are grown there.

Oltradige and Lake Caldaro (Lago di Caldaro, Kalterer See) southwest of Bolzano where Schiava, Merlot, and Cab. Sauv. are planted at the lower altitudes and P. Noir and white varieties are planted at higher elevations.

46
Q

What are the most planted varieties in Alto Adige (in order)?

A
Schiava
Pinot Grigio
Gewürtztraminer
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Lagrein
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
47
Q

Which DOCs are important in Alto Adige for Schiava? Why?

A

Lago di Caldaro DOC, exclusive to Schiava

Santa Magdalena DOC. This area produces deeper colored and fuller bodied wines as a result of up to 15% Lagrein that can be added to the wine.

48
Q

What is the typical style of Alto Adige Schiava?

A

Dry, red wine with pale ruby color light to medium body, low tannins, and aromas of violet and strawberry.

49
Q

What is the typical method of white winemaking in Alto Adige? What is the goal?

A

Low to moderate temperatures (12-15°C) with commercial yeasts and stainless steel containers. higher priced wines may see time on the lees ranging from 6 months to a year.

The goal is the preservation of primary fruit aromas.

50
Q

What percentage of Alto Adige wines classify as DOC?

A

98%

51
Q

How many white and black varieties are permitted in Alto Adige DOC wines?

A

11 white varieties

7 black varieties

52
Q

What are the rules for Alto Adige DOC?

A

Bianco: 75% (min) of Chardonnay, P. Bianco, and/or P. Grigio. At least two must be used and any one can’t exceed 70%.
Varietal: 85% minimum of named grape
Dual variety: Any two approved grapes of the same color in which one variety must be at least 15% of the blend
Subzone

53
Q

What is the average vineyard holding in Alto Adige?

A

About 1 ha

54
Q

What is the most important type of producer in Alto Adige? What percentage of production do they account for?

A

Cooperatives are most significant, comprising 70% of production.

55
Q

What effect does the small holding size have on estate producers?

A

It forces them to produce higher quality wines. Even those producers have small holdings, with Alois Lageder owning 50 ha and Elena Walch owning 60 ha.

56
Q

What are the important markets for Alto Adige wines?

A

75% are sold within Italy, half of which are distributed within Alto Adige.

The two significant export markets are Germany and USA.

57
Q

What is the most important sector in Italy for Alto Adige wines?

A

Hospitality, followed by specialist wine shops.

58
Q

What is the promotional body for Alto Adige wines? How if Alto Adige wine branded?

A

Consorzio Alto Adige Wines

The wines are branded on the top of the capsule with “Südtirol”