Ticino (wine region)
| Wine region | |
Vineyards at Bellinzona Castles | |
| Official name | Ticino |
|---|---|
| Other names | Svizzera Italiana |
| Type | DOC (AOC) |
| Year established | in the Roman era |
| Years of wine industry | VITI: since 1948; DOC: since 1997; |
| Part of | Swiss wines |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 1500–2200 mm |
| Size of planted vineyards | 1,040 ha |
| No. of vineyards | 3,869 |
| Grapes produced | 6'816'620 Kg |
| Varietals produced | Merlot (and Bondola) |
| No. of wineries | 264 |
| Official designation(s) | DOC, VITI |
| Comments | All data as of 2005 |
Ticino has a long tradition of winemaking, being the southernmost region of Switzerland. Wine has been produced there since the Roman era. The region is known for its Merlot, which was introduced in the early 20th century. Bianchi di Merlot, produced from red merlot grapes by minimizing skin contact during vinification, is a distinctive style characteristic of the region.
Geographically the wine region is located on the south side of the Alps and includes the canton of Ticino and the neighbouring district of Moesa (Misox and Calanca valleys) in the canton of the Grisons, both areas being Italian-speaking. It is the warmest region of the country, olive oil is also produced there.
The terroir varies from acid soil in the northern part to limestone in the southern part.
The top quality wines of the region have the appellation del Ticino DOC or ticinese DOC, sometimes linked with a VITI label, and the wines in the medium category use della Svizzera Italiana or nostrano.