Region: Trentino-Alto Adige

Zone:

Valdadige Terradeiforti (Etschtaler) DOC

Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC was formerly a subzone, part of Valdadige DOC, but obtained its DOC status in 2006. The zone is a join-appellation of Trento-Alto Adige. On Italian Wine Guide, we placed Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC as a subregion to Trentino-Alto Adige because the main production is located here.

Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC (or Etschtaler DOC) is also known as Terradeiforti Valdadige DOC (this, however, phased out between 2006 and 2011), Terradeiforti DOC or as the three-word name, Terra dei Forti DOC. Regardless of the name you choose to use, it refers to a rather larger valley believed to have been shaped by glaciers that cut down through the countryside and later formed the river Adige.

Evidence suggests that the vines were brought to this zone by Illyrians, a Greek tribe. This hypothesis was confirmed after 1825, when a so-called “situla” was found, which was a ritual bucket or container used to give wine to the thirsty gods as an offering. The situla, which was dated back to the 6th or 7th century BC, represents today the Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC regional wine production. For wine aficionados, it may be interesting to see the ancient bucket kept in Castello del Buonconsiglio, in Trento.

Ever since the Roman period, the area has been a link between the Mediterranean Sea and the trade routes that went up through the Alps. The multitude of castles and fortresses built along the Adige river stand witnesses of the valley’s importance throughout the centuries.

Valdadige has a wonderful landscape, with sharp, steep rocky cliffs and forested mountains on one side and steep slopes covered with vegetation, crisscrossed by impassable gorges on the other side.

Between the mountains there is a huge valley with large vineyards, interrupted only by villages and scattered settlements. The production area is located in the municipalities of Brentino Belluni, Dolcè and Rivoli Veronese in the Verona province, and Avio, in the Trento province.

All grape varieties thrive in the Valdadige particular microclimate, but there are two types of red wine basically, made from local grape varieties. This is Valdadige Terradeiforti Enantio DOC, Valdadige Terradeiforti Casetta DOC, the white wines Valdadige Terradeiforti Chardonnay DOC and Valdadige Terradeiforti Pinot Grigio DOC. There are also two types of dessert wine, a red one and a white one.

When it comes to dry white wine, the quality of Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC is rather plain. However, some producers made some advancements in the matter and obtained quite interesting results.

Read more about the wines from Valdadige Terradeiforti (Etschtaler) DOC by clicking i the top menu in the right side.