Italy — wine

Trentino-Alto Adige

Italy's most dramatically Alpine wine region — the Adige and Isarco valley systems from Bolzano (Bozen) south to Trento, producing wines of extraordinary variety and quality from Germanic (Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Sylvaner), French (Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Lagrein), and indigenous (Teroldego, Marzemino, Nosiola) varieties. The Alto Adige (South Tyrol/Südtirol) sub-zone has a German-speaking majority and produces Italy's finest Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, and Lagrein from steep hillside vineyards. The DOC's altitude (200-1000m) creates dramatic diurnal temperature variation that preserves aromatics and natural acidity.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Trentino-Alto Adige vintage; Alpine varieties showed extraordinary aromatic precision; Lagrein and Teroldego of excellent concentration from warm season.
2021 Classic vintage; cool Alpine conditions produced wines of excellent natural acidity and the characteristic freshness of high-altitude Italian whites and reds.
2020 Benchmark year; Foradori Teroldego and Elena Walch Gewurztraminer both received extraordinary international attention.
2019 Outstanding vintage; Gewurztraminer from Termeno (Tramin) showed exceptional aromatic intensity; Pinot Grigio from Colterenzio achieved rare mineral depth.
2018 Warm vintage producing generous, aromatic wines; Lagrein of unusual concentration; Gewurztraminer of good aromatic intensity from the variety's ancestral homeland.