Trentino-Alto Adige
Trentino-Alto Adige is Italy's northernmost wine region, located right on the border with Austria. Reflecting its complex geopolitical history, Trentino-Alto Adige is made up of two autonomous provinces: Trentino which is almost entirely Italian-speaking and Alto Adige which has a predominantly German-speaking population. This is due to the region's former status as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from which it was taken over by Italy in 1919. The region is crossed to the east and west by the Adige River, which gives its name to Alto Adige (Alto Adige). The valleys formed by the Adige and its tributaries are home to almost all of the region's vineyards. Outside of these areas, the terrain is generally too mountainous for viticulture. As is the case with many Alto Adige wineries, they are close to ski slopes and winter sports resorts. Production was once dominated by local red grape varieties like Lagrein and Schiava. Today, white wines are larger in terms of volume and are often made from the Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) and Chardonnay grape varieties.