Viticulture in Alto Adige has ancient origins. Archaelogical findings prove that vines were grown from the 4
th-2
nd Century B.C.. During the Roman occupation, the native population learnt new techniques for growing vines and making wine but only from the 5
th century on, thanks to the work of abbeys and monasteries, did wine-growing start its expansion, which continued up to the early 19
th century. The arrival of phylloxera and the two world wars led to a period of crisis, during which much of the vine-growing area was taken over by fruit-growing and urbanization. During the last few years there has been a slight increase in the area planted with vines.
Facts and figures Total wine-growing area of Bolzano Province
| 5,224
|
Total wine-growing area on difficult terrain
(altitude, steep slopes, terracing) (ha.)
| 2,115
|
Area with slopes > 30% (ha.)
| 1,385
|
Area at an altitude > 500 m above sea level (ha.)
| 730
|
Area terraced (ha.)
| No data available
|
Maximum altitude of the vineyards (m above sea level)
| generally 800 m; 2 sites at 1,000 m
|
Vineyards on difficult terrain
| Throughout the vine-growing area, in particular in Valle Isarco, Santa Maddalena and Val Venosta
|
(Data updated to 2004)
Subdivision of the area
The most common situation, 63%, involves small wineries with between 0.2 and 1 ha; covering 60% of the total area. Very frequently, in 26% of the cases, the wineries have even less than 0.2 ha, making up 14% of the surface. 10% of the wineries have a holding between 1 and 3 ha and 21% of the area. Only 1% of the wineries cultivates over 3 ha; for 5% of the area.
Wine-growing landscape
Part of the vineyard landscape is protected.
In many areas the vineyards are cultivated along with fruit (apples) and in the higher areas with hay meadows. The most common method used is to follow the contours (parallel to the slope). In the vineyards on high slopes (over 30 %) small tracked vehicles allow mechanisation and grass grows all over the vine-growing area.
The villages are within the vineyards and no wineries have been abandoned. On the gentle slopes the rural buildings are in the centre of the vineyards, while in the valley bottoms/hillsides they are in the villages.
Main vines
White grapes:
- Pinot bianco
- Chardonnay
- Pinot grigio
- Traminer aromatico
- Sauvignon blanc
- Müller Thurgau
- Sylvaner
Black grapes:
- Schiave
- Lagrein
- Pinot nero
- Merlot
- Cabernet sauvignon
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