Dolomiti IGT

The wine-producing area called Vigneti delle Dolomiti, or Weinberg Dolomiten in German, is an IGT (protected geographic indication), a less restrictive category of wine regions that allows more innovation than a denomination. The name means ‘Vineyards of the Dolomites’, referring to the Dolomite range of the Alps. The Dolomites are an impressive string of mountains, reaching almost 11,000 feet in elevation, that cover both provinces of Trentino, Alto Adige as well as the province of Belluno in north-western Veneto. These three provinces are all included in Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT. Like almost all IGTs, Vigneti delle Dolomiti allows wineries a lot of latitude in the styles of wines they make and the grape varieties they use. The IGT title is named after the Dolomite Mountains of which dominates a majority of the topography here. Vineyards are found scattered amoungst the peaks and valleys of the foothills at altitudes of which create cool night time temperatures and warm, sunny days. This diurnal temperature variation increasing the length of the growing season of which is crucial in this cool climate to allow grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness.
The IGT title was introduced in 1997, just after the IGT category was first introduced across Italy. Wine may be produced in a variety of styles including red, white or rosé, blend or varietal and still, sparkling or sweet. The array of grape varieties used in these wines is quite broad, but focuses principally on those already well-established in the Trentino Alto Adige, notably Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay for whites and the local Teroldego variety for reds, alongside the ubiquitous Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.