Summary
Mezzacorona is one of the defining growers' cooperatives of Trentino in northern Italy. Founded in Mezzocorona in 1904, it today pools the grapes of around 1,500 member growers who farm some 2,800 hectares in the Piana Rotaliana and the rest of Trentino. The heart is Teroldego Rotaliano, the plain's lead red variety, complemented by Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and the bottle-fermented Trentodoc sparkling wine under the Rotari brand. The cooperative's seat is the architecturally striking 'Cittadella del Vino'.
History
Mezzacorona was founded in 1904 by a small group of growers in Mezzocorona as a cooperative – a form of organisation typical of alpine viticulture that allowed even small operations to process and market their grapes together. Over the 20th century the cooperative grew steadily and became one of the region's most important producers.
A visible sign of this rise is the Cittadella del Vino, a modern winery and visitor complex completed in Mezzocorona in 2004. Its wave-shaped roof echoes the silhouette of the surrounding mountains. Today Mezzacorona is the parent company of the Gruppo Mezzacorona, which also includes the Rotari sparkling-wine brand and other operations.
Location & Terroir
The Piana Rotaliana is a flat alluvial plain shaped by the Adige and Noce rivers and framed by steep Dolomite walls. The calcareous, free-draining alluvial soils and the interplay of warm days and cool mountain nights are ideal for Teroldego, which has its classic home here.
Beyond the plain, the members' vineyards reach into higher parts of Trentino, where cooler conditions produce fresh white wines and base wines for the sparkling wine. This range of altitudes and soils explains the cooperative's broad range.
Style & Philosophy
As a large cooperative, Mezzacorona combines reliable, varietally typical quality with clearly defined origins. Teroldego Rotaliano is made at various levels – from fruity, accessible wine to concentrated Riserva. The Pinot Grigio from the Dolomites is fresh and aromatic and ranks among the best-known of its kind.
Sparkling wine is a focus of its own: under the Rotari brand the cooperative makes Trentodoc by the traditional bottle fermentation (Metodo Classico), regarded as one of the calling cards of Trentino.
Notable Vineyards & Wines
The range reflects the diversity of the region:
- Teroldego Rotaliano DOC – the core wine, in base and Riserva qualities
- Pinot Grigio delle Dolomiti / Trentino – fresh and internationally in demand
- Chardonnay and other white wines from higher sites
- Rotari Trentodoc – the group's Metodo Classico sparkling wine
Awards
Mezzacorona and the Rotari brand are regularly listed in international tastings and wine guides and have done much to make Teroldego Rotaliano and Pinot Grigio from Trentino internationally known. As one of the region's largest cooperatives, Mezzacorona still shapes the image of Trentino winegrowing today.