Geography & Climate
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, is an autonomous region in Northern Italy. It consists of two provinces: Trento and Bolzano-Bozen. The region was part of Austria-Hungary (and its predecessor, the Austrian Empire) from 1389 until its annexation by Italy in 1919. Together with the Austrian state of Tyrol it is represented by the Euroregion Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino.
In English, the region is also known as Trentino-South Tyrol or by its Italian name Trentino−Alto Adige.
The region is bordered by Tyrol (Austria) to the north, by Graubünden (Switzerland) to the north-west and by the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto to the west and south, respectively. It covers 13,607 km2 (5,253 sq mi). It is extremely mountainous, covering a large part of the Dolomites and the southern Alps.
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano has an area of 7,400 km2, all of it mountainous land and covered by vast forests. In Italy, the province borders on Lombardy in the west, Trento in the south and Veneto in the east. The climate is of the continental type, owing to the influence of the many mountain ranges which stand at well over 3,000 metres above sea-level and the wide valleys through which flow the main river, the Adige, from north to south and its numerous tributaries. In the city of Bolzano, capital of the province, the average air temperature stands at 12.2 °C and the average rainfall at 717.7 mm. The lowest pass across the Alps, the Brenner Pass, is located at the far north of the region on the border with Austria.
The Autonomous Province of Trento has an area of 6,207 km2, most of it mountainous land (20% is over 2,000 m and 70% over 1,000 m) and covered by vast forests (50% of the territory). The climate is various through the province, from an alpine climate to subcontinental one, with warm and variable summers and cold and quite snowy winters. The region has always been a favourite destination for tourists, both in winter for skiing in the high mountains and in summer to visit the wide valleys and many lakes (the largest being Lake Garda) can be found [source: Wikipedia].
Wines
Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino or "bread and wine make a beautiful baby". This saying tells a lot about the importance and consideration given to wine in this Alpine region. The expression reflects the widespread belief that bread and wine are fundamental sources of nourishment and growth, both physically and emotionally. That said, consider that Trentino−Alto Adige produces less than 1% of the national wine production, but accounts for about 10% of grappa production. Grappa is a vodka-like traditional Italian drink, made from the leftover skins and seeds of grapes used for wine − try some and you may find yourself uttering pane e vino fanno un bel bambino.
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 [source: Wine Country].
"Trentino−Alto Adige." Wikipedia (accessed 10/22/2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trentino-Alto_Adige,_Italy
Wine Country. "Trentino −Alto Adige: The Alpine Border." (accessed 10/22/2009)
http://winecountry.it/regions/trentino
