We’re declaring today Alto-Adige wine Thursday! Why? Because this far northern region of Italy, with breathtaking Alpine views and a rugged landscape that’s dotted with gorgeous mountain valleys, is also capable of producing some of the best values in expressive, balanced, terroir driven wines. And unlike much of Italy this region has long embraced the classic, international varieties that we all know and love. First up is Pinot Noir, aka Pinot Nero, from a high quality cooperative in Tramin. Pinot, in Italy? Yup, in fact they’ve been growing this grape since long before the region was even Italian, dating back to Napoleon’s invasion of the Austro-Hungarian empire (more history below), and today it’s just as at home here as it is on the west coast of the U.S. This is a silky, exuberant wine, bursting with red fruits and earth, and as promised it offers unparalleled value. This is a perfect “house” Pinot, buy it by the case.

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Although many of the so-called “French” wine grapes likely had a foothold on the Italian peninsula earlier, the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797 was surely a catalyst for further plantations. From 1805-1814 Napoleon and his son-in-law governed the Kingdom of Italy as a client-state of France