Trentino

The discovery in the village of Cembra in 1839 of a "situla”, an Etruscan vase dating back to the eighth century BC, is the oldest evidence of viticulture in this region. The territory is completely mountainous; from a climatic point of view the region is divided into 4 areas: in Val di Cembrait is typically Alpine, and in Vallagarina, and Adige Valley it is sub-continental while to the south in the Valley of the lakes, towards Lake Garda the climate is typically Mediterranean. The red grape most cultivated is the schiava grape, the white being the chardonnay grape which is used in particular for the sparkling Trento DOC. The good organoleptic characteristics of Trentino wines, in particular, their great olfactory strength are not only a result of the large range in temperature, but also due to the fact that the hilly or mountainous areas promote excellent drainage and are positioned in such a way to benefit directly from the suns rays. TheVallagarina between Borghetto and Nomi along the River Adige is the area where themarzemino is at its best. The focus of wine production is the Valdadige, stretching from Aldeno to Roverè della Luna right upto Campo Rotaliano, where the red teroldego grape rules. In Valle di Cembra, from Lavis to Faver, schiava grossa, müller thurgau, pinot blanc and chardonnay, are produced. In Sarca Valley, which extends from Vezzano to Lake Garda in the South mainly autochthonous white grape nosiola is grown. This grape, dried on wooden slats, dried by the afternoon wind known as "Ora", is used principally for the production of a really excellent dessert and meditation wine: Vino Santo Trentino.