Mountains and Mediterranean: the perfect combination in a glass
Our selection of Trentino red wines takes you on a fascinating journey through one of Italy's most distinctive wine-growing regions, where Alpine influences blend with Mediterranean elements to create a unique style of wine. Trentino, a land of borders and contrasts, has developed over the centuries a mountain viticulture that produces wines of extraordinary finesse and elegance, characterised by a perfect balance between structure, freshness and aromatic intensity. From the valley floors of the Alpine valleys to the terraces that climb up to 800 metres above sea level, Trentino's vineyards benefit from a climate that combines sunny days and cool nights, with marked temperature variations that favour the development of intense aromas and ideal phenolic ripening. The extremely varied soils – from glacial moraines to Dolomite limestone deposits, from alluvial soils to porphyritic and granitic substrates – contribute to creating a mosaic of micro-terroirs that is reflected in the expressive diversity of the wines. Our collection showcases both the historic producers who have defined the identity of Trentino's appellations and the new generation of winemakers who are reinterpreting this heritage with a contemporary sensibility, with a particular focus on sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices, which find particularly fertile ground in this region.
Teroldego Rotaliano: the black prince of the Dolomites
The beating heart of our selection is Teroldego, a native grape variety that finds its maximum expression in the Piana Rotaliana, a particularly suitable alluvial area north of Trento, defined by Luigi Veronelli as “the most beautiful vineyard in Europe”. This ancient grape variety, genetically related to Syrah and Pinot Noir, produces wines with an unmistakable character: intense ruby colour with violet reflections, important but never excessive structure, present but refined tannins, and a bouquet that combines wild berries, black cherry and blackberry with spicy notes of black pepper and mineral hints that reflect the alluvial soils rich in dolomite. Our collection explores the different interpretations of this noble grape variety: from the more traditional versions, with long macerations and ageing in large wooden barrels that enhance the evolutionary potential of Teroldego, to the more modern interpretations that favour freshness and drinkability, playing on more delicate extractions and limited ageing. Particular attention is paid to single vineyard selections and the Reserves of the best producers, wines of extraordinary complexity and longevity that represent the pinnacle of Trentino viticulture. There is no shortage of rare interpretations from other areas of Trentino, where Teroldego, while maintaining its recognisable identity, takes on different nuances that reflect the peculiarities of the different terroirs.
Elegance at altitude: Pinot Noir and Schiava
Alongside the powerful Teroldego, our selection highlights the other great soul of Trentino winemaking: red wines of extraordinary elegance and finesse, which find ideal conditions in the alpine climate for expressions of rare aromatic complexity. Pinot Noir, which has found a second home in Trentino, offers territorial interpretations of great personality, especially in the higher areas such as the Cembra Valley, the Upper Non Valley and the Vallagarina. These Trentino Pinots are distinguished by an aromatic profile that combines the typical elegance of the variety with a marked Alpine minerality: crisp red fruits, undergrowth, floral notes of violet and rose, supported by a medium structure and a vibrant freshness that gives them great drinkability and ageing potential. Schiava (also known locally as Vernatsch), a historic grape variety from the Alpine region, finds expressions of great finesse in the hills of Trentino, with light but far from simple wines characterised by notes of cherry, almond, violet and a distinctive spicy touch, supported by a very delicate tannic texture and an inviting freshness that makes them perfect companions at the table. Our collection includes both the more traditional versions of these wines, which maintain a strong link with Alpine culture, and more ambitious interpretations, which demonstrate how even grape varieties considered “minor” can, in the right hands, give rise to wines of extraordinary complexity and character.
Rediscovered tradition: Marzemino, Lagrein and the indigenous Alpine varieties
Trentino's oenological wealth goes far beyond the celebrated Teroldego and Pinot Nero, and our collection passionately explores the varied world of other indigenous grape varieties that represent a unique heritage of biodiversity. Marzemino, made famous by Mozart in Don Giovanni (‘Pour the wine! Excellent Marzemino!’), finds its ideal terroir in the Ziresi di Isera, where it produces medium-bodied but very elegant wines, characterised by intense notes of small wild berries, sweet violet and bitter almond, with a velvety tannic texture that makes it an extraordinarily pleasant wine. Lagrein, an Alpine grape variety grown mainly in South Tyrol but which finds expressions of great character in some areas of Trentino, offers structured and deep wines, with an almost impenetrable colour and a bouquet that combines black fruits, chocolate, spices and iron notes. Our selection also highlights lesser-known but highly interesting varieties such as Enantio (or Lambrusco a foglia frastagliata), an ancient native grape variety from Vallagarina that resisted phylloxera thanks to the particular conformation of its roots; Groppello di Revò, a rarity from Val di Non that had almost disappeared and has now been revived by a few passionate producers; and Negrara, a historic grape variety from the Trentino farming tradition that is enjoying a well-deserved rediscovery.
From classic DOCs to new frontiers
Although deeply rooted in tradition, Trentino viticulture is currently experiencing a period of great dynamism and innovation, which our collection recounts in all its nuances. From historic appellations such as Teroldego Rotaliano DOC, Trentino's first DOC established in 1971, and Trentino DOC with its different varietal and territorial specifications, to the more recent IGTs, which allow producers greater creative freedom. Our selection also explores the new frontiers of Trentino winemaking, such as wines produced from extreme high-altitude vineyards (over 700 metres), which represent one of the most interesting local responses to climate change, offering wines of extraordinary finesse and elegance. Particular attention is also paid to projects aimed at reviving ancient native grape varieties and old vineyards, as well as experiments with traditional winemaking techniques revisited in a modern key, such as versions of Teroldego vinified with carbonic maceration or interpretations of Schiava and Marzemino with partially whole-bunch vinification techniques. Each bottle in our collection represents not only an expression of the territory or variety, but also a different philosophical approach to mountain viticulture, from the most rigorous respect for tradition to the most courageous innovation.
Today, Trentino red wines represent one of the most fascinating and still relatively unexplored expressions of the Italian wine scene. Their unique combination of alpine elegance and Mediterranean generosity makes them unique on the national scene, offering enthusiasts an alternative with great personality to both the more austere wines of northern Italy and the sunnier wines of the south. From the refined power of Teroldego to the subtle complexity of Pinot Noir, from the immediate pleasure of Marzemino to the structure of Lagrein, to the native rarities that continue to be rediscovered, our collection offers a fascinating journey through a region that has been able to transform the constraints imposed by mountain viticulture into strengths, creating an unmistakable style that best expresses the essence of the Alpine territory. Whether you are looking for wines for meditation or excellent companions for the table, bottles to evolve in your cellar or wines for immediate enjoyment, our selection of Trentino reds will surprise and captivate you with their quality, authenticity and ability to tell the story of a unique territory.
