Valdadige (or Etschtaler to the many German speakers who live in this area) is the DOC title for red, rose and white (rosso, rosato and bianco) wines of various types from the Adige Valley, northern Italy. Granted in 1975, the title covers vineyards in more than 70 communes stretching the length of the Trentino-Alto Adige region, and is the only DOC to cover land in the Trentino (Trento) and Alto Adige (Bolzano) autonomous provinces. It also takes in Brentino, Belluno, Dolce and Rivoli (the Terradeiforti communes), across the regional border in north-western Veneto.
Both blended wines and varietals are made under this title, as well as semi-sparkling frizzante wines made from either Pinot Bianco or Chardonnay. The varietals are also made from these two varieties, with Schiava thrown in to fly the flag for local red wines.
Standard white Valdadige Bianco may be made from a 20% base of either Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling Italico (Welschriesling), Muller-Thurgau or Chardonnay, or any combination of these. Trebbiano, Nosiola, Sauvignon and Garganega may also be used in the wines, up to a maximum of 80%. These rather unrestrictive production 'restrictions' allow a great degree of freedom for winemakers creating wines under the Valdadige title, making it one of the more widely used appellations here.
The Valdadige Rosso and Valdadige Rosato wines share an uvaggio of local grapes Enantio, Schiava, Lagrein and Teroldego, and international varieties Merlot, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
