Description
The Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO in German) is reserved for the following typologies of wine: White, Spumante, Spumante Rosé, Passito and Late Harvest White; Red, Rosé, Red Passito and Late Harvest (the latter is only with indication of grape variety). The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety and geographical specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (in German language Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) is within the territory of numerous municipalities in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.
Blends
White (incl. Riserva), Passito: min. 75% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot Grigio – at least two of these varieties must be present, but none must exceed 70% of the total; the remaining 25% must come from Müller Thurgau and/or Sauvignon and/or Riesling and/or Sylvaner and/or Gewürztraminer and/or Kerner.Spumante: Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot Nero and/or Chardonnay Spumante Rosé: Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot Nero and/or Chardonnay; at least 20% must be Pinot Nero.
Description of product typologies
Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) Bianco is straw-yellow in colour, varying in intensity; it offers intense floral and white fruit sensations to the nose, as well as hints of tropical fruits and aromatic herbs; it is fresh, dense, mineral, intense and persistent on the palate. Riserva can be displayed on the label if the wine has undergone an aging period of at least 2 years, commencing October 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. Vendemia Tardiva can be displayed if the wine has undergone an aging period of at least 2 years, commencing October 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced, as well as a natural alcohol level of above 11,5%. Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) Spumante is straw-yellow in colour, varying in intensity and possibly with green or golden reflections, the perlage is fine and persistent; the nose bursts with a gentle and ample bouquet; it is sapid, fine and harmonious on the palate, dry if it is extra-brut and slightly sweet if brut. Riserva can be displayed on the label if the wine has undergone an aging period of at least 36 months in a bottle and is made available for consumption after 42 months, commencing October 1st of the harvest year of the most recent batch of grapes. Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) Spumante Rosé is pink in colour, varying in intensity, with a fine and persistent perlage; the nose bursts with a delicate, ample and composite bouquet that is typical of fermentation in a bottle; it is fresh, fine and harmonious on the palate, dry if it is extra-brut and slightly sweet if brut.Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) Passito is yellow in colour, varying in intensity; it is delicate, pleasing and characteristic on the nose; the flavour is slightly sweet or sweet, full, harmonious and characteristic of the grape variety. Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) wines that specify the grape variety (or varieties) have organoleptic characteristics that are typical of the grapes and terroir of origin.Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) Spumante wines (without indication of grape variety) must be processed exclusively by fermentation in a bottle (classic method), aged for at least 15 months in the bottle and not made available for consumption before 20 months after October 1st of the harvest year of the most recent grapes.
Geographical and sub-area specifications
The Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) can be accompanied by six sub-geographical designations: Alto Adige PDO Colli di Bolzano (Südtirol PDO Bozen Leiten), Alto Adige PDO Meranese di Collina (Südtirol PDO Meraner Hügel) or Meranese (Südtirol PDO Meraner) and Alto Adige PDO Santa Maddalena (Südtirol PDO St. Magdalener) (incl. Classic): these include the only typology of Red wine and are produced in the Province of Bolzano with grapes that are typical of the terroir of origin. Alto Adige PDO Terlano (Südtirol PDO Terlaner): Includes White wine (incl. Riserva) and Passito without the mention of grape variety, and White, Passito and Late Harvest typologies with the grape variety specified; it is produced in the Province of Bolzano with grapes that are typical of the terroir of origin. Alto Adige PDO Valle Isarco (Südtirol PDO Eisacktal or Eisacktaler): includes Klausner Laitacher red wine, as well as white wines, Passito and Vendemmia Tardiva with the grape variety specified; it is produced in the Province of Bolzano with grapes that are typical of the terroir of origin. Alto Adige PDO Valle Venosta (Südtirol PDO Veinschgau): includes the typologies of wine that specify the white and red grape varieties, including Passito and Vendemmia Tardiva with Riserva displayed on the label; it is produced in the Province of Bolzano with grapes that are typical of the terroir of origin.
Grape variety specifications
The Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) may display the specifications of the following grape varieties. From white grape varieties: a min.85% for each of the following: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Müller Thurgau, Riesling Italico, Riesling, Kerner, Sylvaner, Yellow Muscat, Malvasia. Other grape berries, max. 15%, similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the autonomous Province of Bolzano, may be present.From two white grape varieties: Chardonnay-Pinot Bianco; Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio; Pinot Bianco - Pinot Grigio; both varieties must be present at more than 15% of the total. Passito two white grape varieties: Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot Grigio and/or Müller Thurgau and/or Sauvignon and/or Riesling and/or Sylvaner and/or Gewürztraminer and/or Kerner and/or Yellow Muscat. Two of these varieties must be present and both must be present at more than 15% of the total. From red grape varieties: a min. 85% for each of the following: Cabernet or Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc, Lagrein, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Schiava or Schiava Grossa or Schiava Gentile, Schiava Grigia, Moscato Rosa. Other grape berries, max. 15%, similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the autonomous Province of Bolzano, may be present.From two red grape varieties: Cabernet-Merlot; Cabernet- Lagrein; Merlot-Lagrein; both varieties must be present at more than 15% of the total. The characteristics of the colour, scents and flavour of each specification are those typical of the grape variety and terroir of origin.
Additional specifications
The Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) designation can be by Vigna (Vineyard) with the relative toponym. Alto Adige PDO or dell’Alto Adige PDO (Südtirol PDO or Südtiroler PDO) can also be accompanied by added geographical information referring to municipalities, districts, specifically delimited areas within the production area and from where the grapes used to produce the wine actually originate.
