Wines from Alto Adige SUS-210517-140651001
With a chequered history politically, wine culture dates back to 500 BC, with several indigenous grape varieties in the region. Strong influences from the subsequent Roman era expanded the vineyards and more recently, other grape varieties were introduced by Austrian rulers in the 19th Century.
With early emphasis on quantity rather than quality, particularly during the 20th Century, as in many parts of Europe, a step change was made in the 1980’s, with great emphasis on quality, through drastic reduction of yield (production per acre) and other methods. Modern vine growing and winemaking techniques were introduced and a regional wine body the Consorzio dei Vini di Alto Adige was formed in 2007.