Zones in Trentino-Alto Adige
Wine: Red wine
Taste: Dry
Volume: Medium
Min. alcohol: 11%
Storage potential: 3 years
The red wine Casteller DOC is produced in a hilly area that varies in altitude from 120 to 600 meters above sea level. The vineyards are distributed in 50 municipalities in the province of Trento, from Avio and Ala in south, up to Mezzocorona at the border to the neighbouring zone Alto Adige in the north.
As most of the Casteller DOC is very mountainous, most of the wine is produced in the lower areas of Adige Valley, but there are also vineyards surrounding Lake Caldonazzo, just east of the main town of Trento.
Casteller DOC is a wine of high, constant quality, due to the fact that approximately 80% of the wine production comes from well-organized cooperatives, which are by far superior to similar companies in Italy.
Therefore, there is a very tight collaboration between growers and cooperative, where the vine density, grape varieties, tending of the vine, crop yielding, etc. are carefully organized, the payment to each wine grower strictly depends on the quality of the delivered goods.
Casteller, which became Casteller DOC in 1974, is a soft red wine made from the Merlot grape (50-100%), with Schiava Grossa and/or Schiava Gentile and/or Lambrusco a Foglia Frastagliata (Enantio) and/or Lagrein and/or Teroldego.
This combination results in a more or less intense ruby red wine with a vinous, fruity, pleasant aroma, with hints of red berries and plums. The taste is dry, harmonious, typical, with an earthy aftertaste.
If the wine is made predominantly from the Lagrein grape, it will have a considerable amount of tannins, as opposed to the Lambrusco a Foglia Frastagliata variety, which has very few tannins.
Casteller DOC pairs well with soup, Biroldi con Crauti (local sausage with herbs), Carni bollite il tipo Rosso (meat cooked in red wine and vegetables), antipasti and soft cheeses.
Did you know?
That Italy in 2011 was the worlds largest wine producer?
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