The Secret Wine Cellar
of Trentino
Wine has long been a part of the Trentino culture and embedded in the
daily life of its people, as represented by an ancient Trentino legend, the Ghost's Wine. According to legend, a man, "…captured
by the goodness of the wine, immediately filled a jar to take home, but three ghosts stopped him and made him promise to take away
just enough for him and his family and to keep the secret of the magic cellar. But one evening the foolish farmer threw a party and,
carried away with good cheer, gave some of the fine wine to his friends. Suddenly, terrible cries were heard to echo round and the
magic cellar faded away for ever. It is said that the cellar still exists, hidden away somewhere, but nobody reveals the secret...."
The role of wine in the region is further illustrated through a Trentino saying, “Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino,” or "bread and wine make a beautiful baby". The expression reflects the widespread belief that bread and wine are fundamental sources of nourishment and growth, both physically and emotionally.
The secret cellar still exists, it is the size of all Trentino! In every corner of this land, you will find vines and taste wines belonging exclusively to that area. The art of winemaking has always belonged to the culture of Trentino; it is part of both the legends and the traditions. Many local and international vines have found their ideal growing conditions, in an environment made up of different micro-climates that vary from Mediterranean to Alpine, all of which are perfect for producing grapes of exceptional quality. Every valley, slope, and corner of this land has its own particular wines, wines which draw the very best from the place in which the grapes grow.
The territory seems to have been designed specially for the vines; in the mild climate of the Valle di Laghi, the land exposed to the sun provides the highly prized Vino Santo Trentino, made from overripe Nosiola grapes. On the stepped terraces of the mountains, where the land steepens, an extremely aromatic white wine is produced. In the valley beneath, on the Rotaliano plain, is home to the great Trentino red, Teroldego. Further south in Vallagarina, a more gentle red, Marzemino, is grown. In the hilly areas Chardonnay grapes are grown and produce a refined and sophisticated spumante. There are three grapes native to this region, one is the white Nosiola and the other two are the red Teroldego Rotoliano and the Marzemino. In addition to the native grapes, well known international grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Moscato, Pinot Nero and Pinot Grigio, as well as Müller-Thurgau, are grown throughout the region. One main distinction between Trentino and Alto Adige production is the fact that in the northern area the wines are produced mostly by small family-owned and managed wineries that sell their product locally with limited exports to Germany and Austria. Trentino on the other hand counts on a large number of growers who joined into large cooperatives, such as Ca'vit and Mezzacorona, which produce wines that have consistent taste and characteristics year after year. These popular wines have found their niche, both in Italy and abroad, among wine drinkers who look for reasonably good and affordable wines for daily enjoyment.
(Information courtesy of safecrop.org)
The role of wine in the region is further illustrated through a Trentino saying, “Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino,” or "bread and wine make a beautiful baby". The expression reflects the widespread belief that bread and wine are fundamental sources of nourishment and growth, both physically and emotionally.
The secret cellar still exists, it is the size of all Trentino! In every corner of this land, you will find vines and taste wines belonging exclusively to that area. The art of winemaking has always belonged to the culture of Trentino; it is part of both the legends and the traditions. Many local and international vines have found their ideal growing conditions, in an environment made up of different micro-climates that vary from Mediterranean to Alpine, all of which are perfect for producing grapes of exceptional quality. Every valley, slope, and corner of this land has its own particular wines, wines which draw the very best from the place in which the grapes grow.
The territory seems to have been designed specially for the vines; in the mild climate of the Valle di Laghi, the land exposed to the sun provides the highly prized Vino Santo Trentino, made from overripe Nosiola grapes. On the stepped terraces of the mountains, where the land steepens, an extremely aromatic white wine is produced. In the valley beneath, on the Rotaliano plain, is home to the great Trentino red, Teroldego. Further south in Vallagarina, a more gentle red, Marzemino, is grown. In the hilly areas Chardonnay grapes are grown and produce a refined and sophisticated spumante. There are three grapes native to this region, one is the white Nosiola and the other two are the red Teroldego Rotoliano and the Marzemino. In addition to the native grapes, well known international grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Moscato, Pinot Nero and Pinot Grigio, as well as Müller-Thurgau, are grown throughout the region. One main distinction between Trentino and Alto Adige production is the fact that in the northern area the wines are produced mostly by small family-owned and managed wineries that sell their product locally with limited exports to Germany and Austria. Trentino on the other hand counts on a large number of growers who joined into large cooperatives, such as Ca'vit and Mezzacorona, which produce wines that have consistent taste and characteristics year after year. These popular wines have found their niche, both in Italy and abroad, among wine drinkers who look for reasonably good and affordable wines for daily enjoyment.
(Information courtesy of safecrop.org)