Trentino-Alto Adige is Italy's northernmost wine region, located right on the border with Austria. Production was once dominated by the local Lagrein and Schiava red grape varieties. Now white wines are now more important in volume terms. They are increasingly made from well-known international varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
Reflecting its complex geopolitical history, Trentino-Alto Adige is composed of two autonomous provinces. Trentino is almost entirely Italian speaking, while Alto Adige has a predominantly German-speaking population.
The wines from the region reflect cultural as well as topographical complexity. While Germanic varieties such as Müller-Thurgau and Sylvaner reign supreme in some of the region's vineyards, in others the local Schiava grape holds sway. There are also increasing quantities of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc and the red Bordeaux varieties. The influence of modern consumer preferences have been just as prevalent here as in other Italian regions. Trentino-Alto Adige is the only Italian region whose planted area increased in the last quarter of the 20th century.(© Wine-Searcher)
