Climb to the Top: Alpine Wines of Italy

Earlier this year, I interviewed Lucio Matricardi, Ph.D, of Mezzacorona Group, where he is the winemaker for Rotari Trentodoc, Mezzacorona and Stemmari. Rotari Trentodoc is located in the Dolomites, in Northeastern Italy, part of the southern limestone Alps. It was this conversation with Matricardi that churned up my enthusiasm for winemaking and grape-growing in the heights of the Alps.

In terms of vineyards in Europe, Alpine settings reach some of the tip-top elevations, a situation which presents both challenges (no machine harvesters in pergola-trellised, terraced vineyards) and benefits (refreshing winds and sloped sunlight). There are stories to tell in these ranges and this month, L’occasion will explore them with the help of the Italian Food, Wine and Travel authors.

Join us on Saturday, August 5th at 10 am central on twitter to chat about the Alpine Wines of Italy. Look for the hashtag #ItalianFWT. Everyone is welcome to join us for the chat, which includes questions and answers from these top wine bloggers. Ask your questions, share your travel experiences or clue us in on your favorite Alpine wines.

Florian Andergassen and the Alto Adige Website (http://www.altoadigewines.com/en/home.html)

Florian Andergassen and the Alto Adige Website (http://www.altoadigewines.com/en/home.html)

Florian Andergassen and the Alto Adige Website (http://www.altoadigewines.com/en/home.html)

Florian Andergassen and the Alto Adige Website (http://www.altoadigewines.com/en/home.html)

Florian Andergassen and the Alto Adige Website (http://www.altoadigewines.com/en/home.html)

Image Credits: Florian Andergassen and Alto Adige.

In time for the chat, the following writers will publish their posts on the topic. Look forward to:

Jennifer from VinoTravels (and the champion of Italian Food, Wine and Travel) will share Vineyards of the Dolomites with 2013 San Michele all’Adige.

Jennifer is the author of Planning Your Dream Wedding in Tuscany. Her perspectives on Rias Baixes DO, Villa Maria winemaker Helen Morrison and Italian red wines for summer are recent blog highlights.

Susannah from Avvinare will cover White Wines from Aosta Hit High Notes.

Recently, Susannah has written about underrated Molise, the Italian varietal Marsanne Bianco and the Argentinian winery Dona Paula.

Katelyn from Throne & Vine presents Divinely Alpine – Exploring the Wines of Elena Walch.

Throne & Vine has recently covered South Tyrol’s wayside shrines, wickedly cool castles in South Tyrol and reasons for visiting Alto Adige.

Lauren from The Swirling Dervish tells the story of Hearts on Fire: A Summer Tradition in Alto Adige.

Visit Lauren’s blog for comprehensive coverage on wines from the Tour de France route, the summer wine blend of Verdicchio + Vermentino and the Burgundian region of Mercurey.

Lynn from Savor the Harvest recommends The One High Altitude Wine Region You Must Try #ItalianFWT.

Lynn’s blog covers her summer French rosé tasting, the French Basque wine region of Irouléguy and the bubbly Italian wine Franciacorta.

Camilla, of Culinary Adventures with Camilla, cooks up Beef & Barolo, Two Piedmontese Darlings.

Peach-tomato salad with herb vinaigrette, grilled Porterhouse with pea-shoot pesto and Arròs Negre {black paella} with allioli a la catalana are some of the fresh features on Camilla’s blog.

Jeff, author of FoodWineClick! gets into Unique Mountain Wines of Alto Adige.

Organic Natura wines, Vignobles Brumont, a Madiran producer in Southwest France and Italian Wine 101: Intro to Italian Wine and Chianti are topics Jeff has on the blog now.

Martin over at Enofylz Wine Blog provides A Taste of Lugana; 2013 Tenuta Roveglia “Vigne di Catullo” Lugana Riserva #ItalianFWT.

Martin covered ten white wines from Lodi for summer, his wines of the day picks and a highlight of Southwestern France’s Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh.

Gwendolyn from WinePredator writes about heading Off to the Alps for #ItalianFWT.

Gwendolyn has published over 600 posts on her blog – this summer she covered the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, Spanish white wines paired with tacos and how to taste and pair wine + cheese.

And here at L’occasion we have a Winemaker Rendezvous: Ivan Giovanett of Castelfeder. (Also look for a re-feature of Rotari wines on social media.)

Previous Winemaker Rendezvous features include Melissa Burr of Stoller Family Estates, Greg Rowdan of Matua and Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell (plus more here).