Ferrari Trentodoc is an important brand that needs to be explained.
The brand does not refer to the the Ferrari car company. Ferrari Trentodoc is Italy’s leading Metodo Classico sparkling wine producer and it is the most popular Trento DOC wine.
Ferrari is a historic label appreciated all over the world.
Ferrari Trentodoc
Ferrari Trento was founded in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari. He was an enologist, nobleman and native of the Trentino region. He was born in Calceranica al Lago in 1879.
At the end of the 19th century Giulio Ferrari spent time in the Champagne area for his study viticulture in Montpellier. Giulio was convinced that Trentino was suitable for the production of sparkling wines.
Why?
Because of the ideal climate and local mountainous terroir for Chardonnay grapes. He even brought back the Champagne region’s Chardonnay grape to plant in his own Italian vineyards.
When having planted Chardonnay grapes in Trentino to make the sparkling wine, the brand Ferrari was born. Giulio Ferrari wanted to make sparkling wines from exceptional quality!
Lunelli
Since 1952 the “large” Lunelli family runs this business. Merchant Bruno Lunelli owned a wine shop in Trento, he was a good friend of Giulio Ferrari.
Giulio had no children and one day he decided to sell the business onto Bruno. In that time the production was less than 1000 bottles per year. Now the production is about 5 million bottles of Ferrari Trentodoc sparkling wines.
Giulio Ferrari died in Trento in 1965.
Today the third generation of Lunelli is keeping the Ferrari dream alive. In the 1980’s, alongside its Trentodoc, Lunelli started bottling water (brand Surgiva) and making still and sparkling wines in other Italian regions:
- Trento wines (Tenuta Margon in Trentino)
- Umbrian wines (Castelbuono in Bevagna)
- Tuscany wines (Podernovo in Monticiano)
- Prosecco Superiore (Bisol1542 in Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG)
Podium sponsor
Ferrari is luxury wine, it is a symbol of the Italian Art of Living and accompanies the most important moments in the world of institutions, culture, entertainment and sport.
To be podium sponsor of the Formula 1 Matteo Lunelli has signed a partnership with Formula 1 to celebrate victories of the best pilots.
Matteo Lunelli is CEO & president of Ferrari Trento.
The Formula 1 podium toast is a wine made from 100% Chardonnay and available in a limited edition. The drivers present the wines with a Jeroboam 3 liter bottle of Ferrari Trentodoc.
Ferrari Trentodoc is also official partner of Juventus and the Tennis Tournament in Rome.
Cheers!
Grape growing and wine making
Ferrari has its own vineyards (about 100 ha) and purchase grapes from growers to be transformed into a varied range of sparkling wines: Non Vintage, Vintage, Riserva and Prestige Cuvée.
Metodo Classico, traditional method, stands for second fermentation in the bottle. Traditional method is a prestigious method for producing sparkling wine.
The base wine in the bottle matures in the bottle by adding the liqeur de tirage. This process is similar to making Champagne. Prosecco, on the other hand, has the second fermentation in tank.
Trentodoc is a trademarked name and falls under the appellation Trento DOC. The Trentodoc trademark was created in 2007. The two O’s in the trademarked name are designed to be reminiscent of the process of riddling.
The grapes they use are mainly Chardonnay, but also Pinot Noir is used for some labels. The DOC regulations require the producers the wine to be made as follows:
- handpicking the grapes (no machine harvesting)
- using only grapes from Trentino (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc)
- second fermentation in bottle (not in tank)
- yeast contact for a long maturing process (normally most wine makers leave the wines on the lees for longer for more autolytic characteristics)
Great vintages Ferrari tour
A visit to Ferrari includes learning about its history. Walking through the silent cellars and seeing places where the wines are produced is a wonderful experience.
In the tasting room you will get a taste from the products (in this case 3 reserve sparkling wines).
I did the Great Vintages tour. The tour is in a beautiful setting and takes about 1-2 hours. It is a must do if you are in the area!
We tasted the following wines:
- Ferrari Riserva Lunelli Trentodoc
- Giulio Ferrare Riserva del Fondatore Trendodoc
- Giuio Ferrari Rosé Trentodoc
The winery is along the river Adige and the A22 highway (Brennero). You can’t miss it.
Enjoy the wines!
Ferrari Fratelli Lunelli
Via del Ponte, 15
38123 Trento (TN)
Italië
