Six years ago I went on my first trip to Trentino Alto Adige, the region situated in the very north of Italy bordering Austria and Switzerland. We began a hiking vacation in Bolzano and continued throughout the most striking mountains in Italy, the Dolomites.
The breathtaking scenery includes snowcapped mountaintops, woods, wide valleys, streams, lakes and typical Italian villages many with Tyrolean architecture.
The hallmark wines of the region are Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco. They also produce Gewürztraminer and Muller Thurgau. The Reds include Schiava, a light and fruity wine and Lagrein an ancient varietal that has been mentioned as early as the 1500’s. Lagrein is a bit hard to find, but a great wine to cellar for a long time.
My favorite wine from this region is Granato made from 100% Toreldego, by the incomparable Elisabetta Foradori, a legend in the region. Elisabetta took over running the family winery in 1984 at the age of 20, a few years after the death of her father. The estate is still in the hands of her family and is run on a day to day basis by three of her children, Emilio, Theo and Myrtha.
The wine has been described as a rare wonder of the world by esoteric collectors and sommeliers. It is dark fruited and muscular, full bodied yet refined with a vivid freshness.
It has been an interesting journey for Elisabetta as she began experimenting with biodynamic practices in 2002 and gained full certification in 2007. She has also been a forerunner in the use of Tinajas (clay vessels) to age her wines.
An amazing wine to have in your cellar, made from an uncommon grape that has a wonderful story to tell.
This wine pairs well with beef, cured meats, rich pastas, lamb and game.
Salute
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