ALTO ADIGE

Keep your climbing boots on

A little light info to get us all started on Alto Adige / Sud Tirol:

Regional Vineyard:

Total Vineyard Size:

5,293 hectares | total regional vineyard including quality wines, table wines & table grapes

Dedicated to Quality:

5,119 hectares | dedicated to producing grapes for Quality wines.

Notable Cru/Zones:

Colli di Bolzano

Lago di Caldaro

Merano

Santa Maddalena

Terlano

Valle Isarco

Valle Venosta

Wine Style / Quality:

% Red

65%

% White

35%

% DOP / IGP

From 2013 figures it’s estimated 90% of wines produced in Alto Adige are according to EU DOP/PDO Quality standards. The region produces *3 DOP (DOC) wines, two of which are interregional with Trentino. There are 2 IGP classified wines accounting for 10% output.

ALTO ADIGE – NATIVE GRAPES

As always, a number of the regions native grape varieties are used for blending purposes. That said, we’ve listed those grapes which we understand are available as mono-varietals or which are important blenders. Naturally, as we make our own discovery, we’ll update these lists.

NATIVE REDS

SCHIAVA GENTILE*

Also known as Schiava Piccola. Principally blended with the other two Schiava. While carrying the same prefix, by all accounts, there’s no family bond.

SCHIAVA GRIGIA*

So far we haven’t found a monovarietal. Mostly blended with other local Schiava group members.

SCHIAVA GROSSA*

Considered the most widely planted of the three Schiava varieties. Schiava meaning ‘slave’ derived possibly from how it is trained. In Alto Adige, also known as Vernatsch. Difficult to ascertain what a true Schiava Grossa tastes like as the majority of wines are blended together. Intrigued.

LAGREIN*

Youthful reds, principally fruit driven rustic that soften with short exposure to wood. Sibling of Marzemino & related to Syrah. Drink ’em young.

NATIVE WHITES

BLATTERLE

FRAUELER

VERSOALN

OUR STATSOURCES

  • ISTAT – Italy’s Istituto Nazionale delle Statistiche (Census 2010 / Vineyard Production Figures 2013)
  • AIS – The Association of Italian Sommeliers – www.aisitalia.it
  • ‘I Numeri del Vino’ – Marco Baccaglio’s top Italian wine blog. Amazing numbers.
  • Wine Grapes – Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz – lots of great grape stuff – BUY IT !
  • Native Wine Grapes of Italy – Ian D’Agata – extensive info – Highly recommend purchase !
  • Lavinium – Italian wine, food & culture. Brilliant. Only in Italian. Great reason to learn Italian!! www.lavinium.com

VINTAGE INFORMATION

All data is intended to be for indicative purposes only due to the variability from vintage to vintage. But we do try to keep ourselves ‘reasonably’ updated :)

Go top