Located at the foothills of the Alps, Alto Adige is Italy’s most northern wine region and it is known for producing exceptionally good Pinot Grigio. The region borders with Austria and an another Italian wine region, called Trentino. Many of the vineyards are planted on the valley slopes that are on either side of the River Adige. These vineyards are ideal for producing high quality, aromatic white wines and elegant, lighter bodied red wines due to their altitude. Overall, the climate in the Alto Adige wine region is moderate with short dry summers and low rainfall. The main white grape varieties in order of importance and volume are; Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. The most important grape for producing red wine, is the Italian variety called Schiava.