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Trentino-Alto Adige’s spumantes and sparkling wines
Although Trentino now produces both still wines and spumantes, the sparkling wines of Trentino have their own denomination, called Trento Doc, created in 1993 and registered in 2007. These Trentino spumantes are produced using the Champenoise method like Champagne, rather than the Charmat Method, like Prosecco. This means that the second fermentation that produces bubbles takes place in the bottle, not in pressurized tanks. The Trentino production area has a considerable range of varieties - a total of 63 - and the grapes used to produce the famous Trentino sparkling wines grow in four main regions: Valle dell’Adige, Valle di Cembra, Vallagarina and Valle del Sarca.
What are Trentino-Alto Adige’s most famous sparkling wines?
Trentino’s sparkling wines are the fruit of the mountains where they are born, and can regale unique experiences. The extraordinary Altemasi winery produces sparkling wines born in the mountains from Chardonnay and the renowned Pinot Noir, which are some of the most famous in this beautiful region. Moreover, the Kettmeir winery is an important, renowned producer in the Trentino winegrowing scene. The winery relies on time-honoured traditions to produce extraordinary Trentino sparkling wines, as witnessed by the harmonious, fresh Alto Adige Brut Athesis.
Trentino-Alto Adige’s best sparkling wines
The combination of a cool climate, complex soils, wind mitigation and unhurried ageing makes it possible to produce exceptional, inimitable spumantes, generally fresh and lively, with sparkling acidity. On the nose, many sparkling wines from Trentino-Alto Adige show aromas of lemon and freshly-baked bread, while a few minutes after opening, other fruit aromas emerge from the glass. We can find pioneers of Italian spumante such as the Riserva del Fondatore and other big names like Maximum and Perlé, in the heart of the mountains, at the extraordinary Ferrari winery. The Pedrotti winery, which combines traditional and modern techniques, also creates products of excellence. This winery focuses above all on the production of some of Trentino-Alto Adige’s best sparkling wines, such as Trento Brut Millesimato.
The best pairings for Trentino-Alto Adige’s sparkling wines
The spumantes from Trentino-Alto Adige are among the most versatile, and perfectly suited both to an aperitif with friends and to complex, structured dishes. So, what pairings work best? The full flavour of these sparkling wines makes them ideal for enhancing sweet flavours in food. A classic example is the pairing with pasta and rice dishes based on fish and shellfish, but also with cured meats and white meat dishes. Moreover, the fresh, aromatic character of a sparkling wine from Trentino makes a great pairing for spicy food, such as Thai or Indian cuisine.