The peaks of the Alps and the Dolomites structure the terrain in Trentino-Alto Adige. The area is split into two provinces: Trentino, to the south and historically Italian in terms of language and culture, and Alto Adige, which neighbours with Switzerland and Austria, earning it the nickname “South Tyrol.” Here, people speak Italian, German and an almost-forgotten Romance language, Ladin. 

Only 15% of the soil in Trentino-Alto Adige is suitable for farming, and most of it is used for growing wine. The region’s vineyards cover a mere 13,700 hectares. The methods used are more akin to German traditions than those from southern Italy. Since it is so hard to grow grapes on steep slopes, local vintners focus more on quality than quantity when working their small plots. Thus, three-quarters of the wines are DOC, and production is 1.2 million hectolitres, of which most are reds earmarked for export. However, the alpine climate with semi-continental tendencies is also favourable for growing white grapes that produce aromatic wines such as Gewurztraminer.

Various varietal wines are made in two DOC areas: Trentino, in the south, and Alto Adige, in the north. The latter is the birthplace of some emblematic wines, including Colli di Bolzano, Meranese di Collina, Santa Maddalena, Terlano, Valle d’Isarco and Val Venosta.