Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: Wines of Alto Adige, Italy
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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 and 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 latter know their province by the name Südtirol (South Tyrol in English). This is due to the region's former status as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from which it was reclaimed by Italy in 1919.
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.
In many ways the climate here defies what might be expected in an alpine region straddling the 46th parallel north (it shares this latitude with central Burgundy). The valley floors heat up very quickly on summer mornings, sending warm air up into the vineyard-lined slopes. This, coupled with the bright alpine sunshine, results in rich, ripe wine styles that one might not expect from such a cool, fresh region. A similar set of conditions can be seen in southern Swiss Ticino, 100 miles (160km) to the west.
The currents of warm alpine air also help to ward off vine diseases and fungal afflictions. The soils hold fewer surprises, being made up largely of alluvial and colluvial deposits, relatively free-draining and rich in minerals.
We have a choice of videos to watch including:
- https://youtu.be/h6v1hmzUsH0?si=DYoOJqpm7cKpN7eG - The 4 Wines You Must Know: Alto Adige - Wine Folly (9:44)
- https://youtu.be/z0YiSU_yr1I?si=3yU4cX9c7viQdspS - Italian Wine Regions: Trentino-Alto Adige - Gladiator Wine TV (8:34)
- https://youtu.be/yv33mO-xRYg?si=frCdV5jEgym0NWgs - Discover the Red Wines of Alto Adige - Sudtiroler (2:59)
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So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!
Cheers!!