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Trentino Vino Santo is a DOC wine whose production is allowed in the province of Trento (near Sarche and Toblino). It comes exclusively from the endemic “Nosiola” vine (grown on about 272 acres which represent 1.5% of the regional grape production), which has found its perfect growing environment in Valle dei Laghi; the latter valley is crossed by the ancient Roman road that connected the Adige Valley and the Garda Lake. As the name suggests (“Valle dei Laghi” means “Valley of the Lakes”), this area features several small lakes of glacial origin, as well as a mild climate.

After a late harvest, the bunches of Nosiola grapes are arranged in the granaries using grates locally known as “arenas”; they thus lose water thanks to the favourable north wind.
After a short time, the grapes get affected by botrytis bunch rot (Botrytis cinerea), which will favour withering.

During the Holy Week (hence the name of this wine) the grapes are pressed, with little juice left in the berries. The must is then decanted into small oak barrels where natural fermentation soon begins: it actually takes a long time – at least six or eight years – due to the high content of sugar.
After bottling, this type of wine usually lasts for more than fifty years.

In the past, Vino Santo was considered a kind of medicine, mostly used to invigorate and strengthen the diets of convalescents. Today, it is acknowledged as the very best “Passito” (an Italian term literally translated as “sweet”): no other wine, in fact, is made with dried grapes which take so long to wither and dry.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)