The concept of terroir encompasses a set of typical local environmental factors that are characteristics of a particular territory, combined with the cultivation practices regionally adopted. These elements are able to proactively act upon the vine and grape development, imparting unique characteristics to the wines. In this context the territory of Bleggio and Stenico expresses its maximum potential in the production of base grapes for classic method sparkling wines.
The environmental elements interact symbiotically with the cultivation practices adopted by the company and typify the sparkling wines produced, widening the bouquet of aromas and sensations making them typical, unique and unsurpassable.
The Outer Giudicarie is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the western area of Trentino located between the Brenta Dolomites and Lake Garda. They can be characteristically identified as a real "Middle Earth". The valley is divided into three different locations, Banale, Lomaso and Bleggio, while the Terme di Comano is an important international center for skin care and lies within the valley floor.
The entire valley boasts a healthy and uncontaminated environment due to the total absence of polluting factories and the long held practice of diversified and sustainable agriculture, capable of keeping local flora and fauna intact. The vineyards are located exclusively in these areas in order to accentuate the qualitative effects due to the characteristics of the Terroir. They are rare and precious earths that guarantee the production of the best sparkling wine-based grapes.
In other remaining agricultural areas conditions vary slightly and are very suitable for many other crops are grown such as apples, cherries, small fruits, potatoes, vegetables and medicinal herbs, as well as fodder for farms. Many of these produces are processed directly by the manufacturing companies. The area is characterized by its particular mountain climate and influenced by the actions of Lake Garda to the south and produces conditions suitable for obtaining premium quality products.
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The Brenta Dolomites
The Brenta Dolomites are the mountain group that dominates the valley and on whose slopes our vineyards lie. They characterize a splendid mountain landscape, recognized as a Unesco heritage. Their presence is very important because they guarantee the altitude, solar radiation and temperature ranges suitable for the production of the best base grapes for our Trento Docs.
Spunti turistici
Key Factors
L'ora del Garda is the colloquial name for a warm afternoon breeze that blows almost daily northwards from Lake Garda in summer, reaching our vineyards.
The Ora increases the daily temperature range, helps keep the vineyard ventilated avoiding the onset of fungal diseases and mitigates the harsh winter climate of the area ensuring better survival of the vines.
The typical mountain climate is characterized by high daily temperature variations that have a very significant impact on the chemical and organoleptic qualities of the grapes. First of all, they guarantee the maintenance of adequate acidity even upon reaching full ripeness and secondly, they favor the incorporation of aromatic compounds.
In the LEVII vineyards these temperature variations are amplified by two distinct factors that act in a coordinated manner: the Ora del Garda, warm and soft, and the cool breeze that descends from the Brenta Dolomites. A magical combination.
Each LEVII vineyard is characterized by excellent solar radiation resulting from their steep slope combined with southern orientation. The clusters are thus constantly exposed to sunlight from morning to sunset.
Irradiation and exposure are important factors that become decisive in mountain environments as they ensure the robust ripening of the grapes.
The average altitude of the plots is around 650m a.s.l. and guarantees a production of Trento Doc grapes of excellent quality.
Finally, the altitude induces finesse, freshness and longevity in the wines.
The relationship between ripeness and acidity plays a fundamental role in the production of classic method based grapes. The acidity, in fact, is very important to ensure the seal of the sparkling wine in the long aging on the lees and to give our Trento Doc freshness and virtue.
Harvesting by hand allows a very careful selective harvest towards the healthiest of the grapes. In this way bunches of grapes are selected one by one, eliminating any damaged ones and then collected in small boxes. Any crushing of the grapes and the consequent leakage of must is avoided thus eliminating issues with oxidation. The harvested grapes remain healthy during their short transportation to the cellar.
The soft pressing of whole grape bunches we employ is a particular enological technique that allows the must to be extracted in a very delicate and fractionated way, separating the free-run must from the pressed material.
A production philosophy focused on high quality must guarantee the consumer a "unhurried" product. For this reason LEVII never compromises a stay on the lees of at least 30 months, which provides the base product with its premium qualities.
The LEVII vineyards are characterized by slopes that vary from a minimum of 15% to a maximum of 45%. Although this arrangement involves some technical, economic and management disadvantages, it does guarantee adequate exposure and excellent solar radiation, fundamental aspects in our specific mountain environment.
The average production of the vineyards varies between 70 and 80 quintals / hectare, the result of a reduced fertility of the soil and the action exerted by the mountain climate. This has a significant impact on the final quality, ensuring the very important improvement in the chemical and qualitative characteristics of the grapes. This limited production in fact increases the concentration of extracts and substances in the bunch.
The planting density of each vineyard is greater than 7,000 plants per hectare and this has numerous positive aspects. Competition between the vines forces the roots to develop depth, improving resistance to water stress and interaction with the soil. The effects of the Terroir linked to the rocky matrix are thus enhanced. It also reduces the vegetative vigor of plants, making them less prone to diseases, and induces a reduced production of grapes per vine.
