Wines of the Dolomites

Wines of Italy’s Dolomites region – written by Elisabetta Tosi, an experienced Italian freelance wine journalist and wine blogger, and new media consultant. From Valpolicella (close to Verona, in Veneto region) where she lives, she usually writes about Italian wines and wineries for international online and offline magazines, and is always ready to jump into new travel adventures.

Words and photos by Elisabetta Tosi, Valpolicella, Italy.

Awesome mountains, beautiful alpine lakes (there are over 300 of them), stunning landscapes: the Italian Trentino region is a jewel waiting to be discovered!

Even if you are just coming for the wines and the wineries, you certainly won’t be disappointed. This wine growing area of the Italian Dolomites has everything to make you happy. Very happy!

Once you cross the valley of the Adige River from Verona to Trento, you will get your first glimpses of an impressive canyon where the river flows through a couple of narrow loops: the so-called Chiusa (“closed” in the Italian language) of Ceraino, a tiny village. After just a few kilometres, you will see the first vineyards!

From Veneto to Trentino, the vines dominate the landscape, from the lower valleys all the way up to the steepest slopes on the hills. Trentino boasts a centuries-old and well-established enology and winemaking tradition of the highest standard. The average annual harvest is about 1 million hectolitres of grapes, cultivated over an area in excess of 10,000 acres. This is a drop in the ocean compared to the land dedicated to vineyards worldwide, but here the soil is superb for grapes.

The varieties cultivated are both local and international, but without a doubt the most loved ones by winemakers and wine lovers alike, are the original cultivars: the regal Teroldego, the gentle Nosiola, the friendly Marzemino. The “Prince”, the “Lady” and the “Jolly” in the deck of cards of wine production in this region.

Teroldego is regarded as the prince of Trentino’s red wines. It originated in the so-called Campo Rotaliano (Rotaliano’s Field), a vast plain situated north of Trento. It is amongst the darkest red wines in the world, and in ancient legends was compared to the blood of a dragon. It is a well-balanced, clean and elegant wine. The nose detects hints of red and black small berries with violet flowers, while the tongue detects a spicy and balsamic character.

Totally different is the bright and gentle Nosiola, the lady: a white grape that produces wine with the taste of wild hazelnuts. The name is derived from the Italian word for hazelnut, nocciola, which is the dominant aroma found in Nosiola wines. The grapes are cultivated in areas where the brisk afternoon breeze named “Ora del Garda” or “Garda’s Ora” (Ora from the Latin word “Aura” meaning “beneficial breath”), helps to dry off the afternoon rains and enhances the ripening of the grapes.

Nosiola is a versatile, fresh and easy-to-drink wine while still is in its youth. However, if made with dried grapes, it changes dramatically and becomes a precious, lavish, and surprisingly silky sweet wine. Production of this “Vino Santo” is quite limited.

Last, but not least, is the jolly Marzemino, famously mentioned as “Versa il vino! Eccellente Marzemino!” in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” opera. It is a fresh and easy-to-drink red wine, gentle and friendly. To the nose, this wine offers scents of plums, violets, and wild berries; to the palate, it is fruity, delicate and very pleasant. When you are in the Trentino region, try it paired with a pizza. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

THIS ARTICLE APPEARS ONLINE IN
Globerovers Magazine July 2018