2008 Ferrari Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Rosé

Some brands transcend the region and are a phenomenon in themselves. Ferrari - and we are not talking about cars - is such a brand. As a company very committed to Trento as a region, but in Italy much more famous as a producer of excellent sparkling wines. Ferrari sparkling wines make up 50% of the total production of sparkling wines of the region (4.5 million bottles). They come from 120 hectares of own vineyards, from which all vintage wines are made and 300 hectares from 150 contract farmers.

Founder Giulio Ferrari found his inspiration in the Champagne. He was so impressed with these wines, which undergo a fermentation in the bottle to get their sparkling character. In 1902 he came up with his own variant, also made on the basis of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so exactly the same grapes as in Champagne. He did not think the third important Champagne grape, Pinot Meunier, was good enough. Actually more of a grape that was actually only planted to survive the spring frost in this northern region.

Giulio Ferrari's successors have always remained true to his and the company's philosophy. It is the descendants of Bruno Lunelli, who took over Ferrari in 1952, who currently hold sway over the company. But nothing has changed in the strategy. They too have always made wines according to the Champagne method (Metodo Classico). A smart strategy. Italians love everything that mousse and for good reason the biggest buyers of Champagne. Only 10% of Ferrari's wines go abroad. The quality is monitored by setting strict requirements for the quality of the grapes. The Chardonnay - Pinot Noir is only used for Rosé - comes exclusively from vineyards above 300, 400 meters, necessary for good acidity. The contracted farmers are well paid, up to € 2 per kilogram of grapes - the best way to make and guarantee quality. Bottle aging takes at least two years and of the better wines even four, five years. The cellar is now being expanded to allow the normal brut to mature for 30 or 36 months, instead of two years now. It produces wines that can compete with a good Champagne, and not only the Cuvée Perlé or the top wine Giulio Ferrari, but also the ordinary Brut or Brut Rosé.

The Trentino-Alto Adige region is located in northeastern Italy, just below Austria and is divided into two autonomous provinces. In the southernmost province of Trentino people speak Italian, in Alto Adige mainly German. The mountainous character of the region does not provide an easy basis for viticulture. In the first place are therefore fruit and livestock, followed by the vine, usually planted on steep terraces. Nevertheless, some remarkable wines come from it. In particular the Spumanti and some white wines are of very good quality. There are also some high-class red wines made (Lagrein and Teroldego Rotaliano). The region has two umbrella DOCs, the Trentino DOC and the Alto Adige DOC, each of which is divided into sub-zones or wine types. In addition, the region has 5 other DOCs and 5 IGTs. As much as three quarters of the total wine production is classified as DOC while the vast majority of the wine is exported.

The largest vineyard area is found in the province of Trentino, 9,000 hectares compared to some 3,800 hectares in the province of Bolzano. Although the location of the region and the climate suspect that many white wines are produced in particular, historically the emphasis is still on the production of red wines that make up as much as two thirds of the total. Many red wines are made from the Schiava or Vernatsch and are light and fruity in character. Austria and Germany are important customers for this type of wine. The best known are the St. Magdalener or Santa Maddalena and the Kalterersee or Caldaro, with their own DOC, both from the province of Bolzano.

Trentino is such a wine region that you always drive at full speed, on the way from the Brenner Pass to those wonderful southern regions, such as the nearby Lake Garda or picturesque Tuscany. Wrong! Trentino is also worth a visit, not only because of the landscape, but also because of the wine. At first sight it seems such a simple wine region, located in the flat valley of the Adige. But that turns out to be wrong at all. Around the capital Trento there are vineyards on beautiful hills and in picturesque valleys. They even reach there up to an altitude of 800 meters. This is very high for European standards. This means that Trentino is an ideal place for making fresh and powerful still wines, with beautiful acids, due to its location at height. And above all, it is an area where delicious sparkling wines come from. Indeed, the acids in the wines of the higher slopes are ideal for sparkling wines.
This even leads to the conclusion that the sparkling wines of this region are probably its strongest point. With Franciacorta, just to the west, the region around Trento is Italy's main producer of quality mousseux, made according to the Metodo Classico, so with a classic fermentation in the bottle, the best way to get the most beautiful bubbles. Top house Ferrari was the basis of a separate DOC for sparkling: Trento, mind you, in addition to the already existing DOC Trentino for dry wines - a bit confusing. Trento DOC requires a bottle maturation of at least 18 months, twice as long as for the Spanish Cava. A smart move. In addition, most homes allow their wines to age even longer on the yeast, resulting in finer bubbles and more complexity. In addition to Ferrari, the region has many producers of sparkling wines. Various cooperatives are of course active in this, and certainly successfully. The combination of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from high vineyards works extremely well. It makes sparkling wines one of the successes of the region. Super cooperative Cavit makes a fine mousseux under the name Altamira 'Graal', competitive cooperative Mezzacorona uses its own brand Rotari for good sparkling wines, also made according to the Metodo Classico. These positive developments strengthen the DO Trento's position as a leading region for sparkling wines, not only in Italy, but also internationally.

Trentino, Italy's number 1 in Chardonnay production, is also a leader in the production of excellent sparkling wines according to the 'metodo tradizonale', many of which have the DOC classification to their name. The city of Trento is the 'vibrant' center of this production and even has its own DOC (DOC Trento) exclusively for the production of Spumanti of the Chardonnay supplemented with Pinot nero and / or Pinot bianco and / or Meunier. The wines are a good substitute for Champagne and very suitable with oysters and other shellfish, but are often consumed as aperitif.