Reference Regions

Reference Regions » Eastern Alps (Italy)

Eastern Alps (Italy)

Description of the Reference Region

The Reference Region (RR) includes the Alpine and pre-Alpine chains of Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia. It is quite heterogeneous, with higher forest coverage in the East and progressively more agriculturally managed land to the West.

Agriculture activity includes cattle production on pasture, mainly for milk production that feeds Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) quality cheese value chains such as Trentingrana or Montasio; fruit production, especially apples, but also some berries, vegetables and grapevine for several PDO wines.

Selected Value Chain

The selected value chain (VC) is Trento Doc wine. The production of organic grapes for high quality wines is based in Alto Trentino the “province of Trento”.

The land use system of the VC is farmland, specifically traditional vineyards for wine production, deeply linked to the landscape of Trentino. Grapes are mainly grown on small family farms and alternate with apple production. The VC is home to the sparkling wine production of the Ferrari company.

Investments in vineyard planting have changed the area and opened it up for potential tourism use. The VC is interesting for several reasons: (i) the role of private companies in the face of climate change; (ii) the potential of investments in local development; and (iii) the valorisation of mountain areas considered marginal and progressively abandoned.

Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) members

The platform includes vine-growers and other farmers, advisors, leading private and cooperative wine companies (Ferrari and others), local environmental associations (NGOs), local research institutes, and representatives of Provincial Directorate of Agriculture. It is also planned to involve local tourism agencies and other associations.