 Few winegrowing regions are as renowned for the complexity and quality of their white wines as the Alto Adige. Located just beneath the Austrian border in Italy, this long, narrow valley with mountain peaks reaching into the sky surrounds the Adige river. The region has been planted to vineyards since the times of Rome, and was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War I, when it was forfeited to Italy.
The Alto Adige is home the Italy's northernmost vineyards. The region is situated on the south side of the Alps, which gives vines enough exposure to sunlight to mature at a beneficial rate. Vineyards are planted within an abundance of microclimates, and altitudes vary from 650 feet at the valley floor to almost 3,500 feet on the mountain summits. At the lowest altitudes, apple orchards are almost as common as vineyards. Vines planted in the prized high-altitude sites enjoy exceptional climactic conditions that result from the interplay of the cool breezes from the Alps and the warm, drying air frrom Lake Garda.
Surprisingly, the Alto Adige produces more red wine than white, although most of the red is consumed locally. The region's strength is its white wines, which are among the world's finest. The Alto Adige plays host to a wide variety of white wine grapes, from established varietals such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to obscure grapes such as Goldmuskateller and Nosiola. However, few have reached the level of quality of Pinot Grigio, which is celebrated for a fresh perfumed aroma rarely found outside of the region. What further distinguishes the Pinot Grigio of Alto Adige is the complex, spicy character that the best offerings exhibit.
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