The characteristics of red wines from Trentino and South Tyrol
If you are looking for juicy and refreshing red wines, then Trentino Alto Adige is the ideal region.
Thanks to the alpine climate, the grapes develop a refreshing acidity, which translates into red wines with less aggressive tannins and easier to drink. Another characteristic of Trentino and South Tyrolean red wines is a pleasant minerality and sapidity, due to the morphological characteristics of the predominantly porphyritic and calcareous soils.
The red wines of Trentino-Alto Adige have notes of red fruits such as cherry, raspberry and blackberry for the native grape varieties, and black fruits such as plum and black cherry for international varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet.
What are the best red wines of Trentino-Alto Adige?
Here is a brief overview of the most important DOC and DOCG wines:
-Teroldego: the region's most famous native red grape variety. It produces full-bodied, intense and spicy wines with notes of plum and cherry. The Teroldego Rotaliano wines from producers such as De Vescovi Ulzbach and Bossi Fedrigotti are excellent examples of this wine, which is less well known than it deserves to be.
-Lagrein: another indigenous grape variety that produces dark, robust and tannic wines with aromas of wild berries, violets and pepper. Lagrein from South Tyrol is particularly prized.
-Pinot Noir: mainly grown in Oltradige, it produces fine, elegant wines with a bright ruby colour and notes of cherry, raspberry and spices. Excellent Pinot Noirs are produced by winemakers such as Hofstätter, Elena Walch and Girlan.
-Schiava: a grape variety that produces light, fruity, ready-to-drink wines. The simple versions are perfect for summer, while the Reserves have more structure.
-Cabernet, Merlot and other international varieties: these are successfully grown in some warm areas such as the Bassa Atesina, producing wines with good structure.
What to pair South Tyrolean red wines with?
The key word is: versatility at the table, given by the balance between freshness, soft tannins and savouriness that makes South Tyrolean reds perfect for both important meat dishes and light, informal or ethnic cuisine. These wines pair easily with many dishes.
