Trentino-Alto Adige Wine
 

Trentino-Alto Adige Wine:

Viticulture in the Alto Adige has ancient roots that preceded the Roman Empire. This region's vineyards extend over the plains and hills surrounding the Isarco Valley and the Adige River whose valley is Italy's corridor to Germany. S�dtirol (Alto Adige) is more Germanic than it is Italian and although the Trentino in the south has an Italian culture, it too remains more cosmopolitan, as exemplified in the international grape varietals so popular in this region.

The most famous varietals are Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Muller Thurgau, Riesling and Moscato Giallo. Trentino is also responsible for Italy's largest production of Chardonnay and is a leader in sparkling wines.

A special sweet dessert wine is "Vino Santo": it has been produced here in very limited quantities, with the local grape Nosiola, since the medieval time. The mature and golden bunches of grapes are left to dry on racks under the roofs of the houses for 6/7 months: from October until Easter. During the Holy Week the grapes are pressed and the must is particularly sweet and thick. This is why its fermentation takes such a long time – 10 years. The loss in terms of volume may exceed 85%. The final result is a sweet and delicate wine.