OUR HISTORY

Since 1904 Mezzacorona and Rotari have been cultivating their vineyards in the valleys of Trentino Alto Adige, a particularly suitable area thanks to the variety of microclimates that distinguish it: mild and temperate, influenced by deep valleys, mountain ranges with peaks over 3500 meters.

Here, in the heart of the Dolomite Alps, Mezzacorona and Rotari produce wines with a unique and authentic character like the territory in which they are born.

Mezzacorona and Rotari wines are the result of the utmost attention to the specific characteristics of the vines and varieties. They are fragrant and elegant wines, authentic and virtuous like the men who make them, special like the land from which they come to life. Generations of member families have chosen to operate in respect of the environment with sustainable processing techniques, cultivating their vineyards with integrated production systems, guaranteeing increasingly natural products.

OUR VINEYARDS

Trentino, a land rich in natural beauty, castles, history, and traditions. Dolomite peaks alternate with plains and terraces, where vines have always been cultivated.

Here, Mezzacorona and Rotari cultivate their own vineyards using mainly the traditional “Trentino pergola". This form of farming is the result of tradition and derives from the search for quality production and the manual processing of the grape fields, where man is the main actor.

The extremely varied composition of the soil and the different climatic areas, from the sub-Mediterranean (Valle dei Laghi, Valle del Sarca), to the continental (Vallagarina, Valdadige, Piana Rotaliana), to the alpine (Val di Cembra) have allowed the different varieties to find in Trentino the ideal habitat to best express one's organoleptic characteristics. Mezzacorona and Rotari cultivate single varieties only in areas where the vines can best express their character. Each Mezzacorona and Rotari wines tell a piece of Trentino.

HAND-HARVEST

Compared to other neighboring areas, where most of the grapes are mechanically harvested, Mezzacorona and Rotari wines are 100% hand harvested. So, we have no crushed berries, hence we experience no oxidation of flavors nor loss of aromas. Also, the hygiene of the grapes is completely well-preserved. Manual harvest is particularly important in “difficult” vintages when weather conditions expose the vines to phyto-hygienic risks. By selecting bunch by bunch, the Mezzacorona and Rotari growers only send to the winery the healthy grapes and leave behind the bad ones.

MEZZACORONA AND ROTARI: PIONEER AND WITNESS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Safety and sustainability have always been the basis of our philosophy: for decades, in fact, we have adhered to and promoted the Integrated Production Protocol of the Autonomous Province of Trento, which establishes precise cultivation criteria that respect the vine, the environment, man and of the consumer.

The certified wine is the result of numerous steps and checks throughout the production cycle, from the campaign to the bottling phase. Among the many checks, the quality managers of the winery must ascertain and guarantee the perfect traceability of every single lot and every single bottle to guarantee that the wine comes strictly from SQNPI certified grapes. 

Download Our 2020 Sustainability Report 

OUR SICILIAN ESTATES

The Stemmari line is composed by intense, elegant wines, a pure expression of the Sicilian terroir. The intense light and heat from the sun, a Mediterranean climate and fertile grounds contribute to well ripened, mature grapes, strong fragrances and rich aromas giving unique characteristics and distinct personalities to the Stemmari wines. Not only the indigenous grapes of the island, Nero d’Avola and Grillo are included, but also the international varietals such as Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon find the ideal habitat in the Sicilian soil. It is here where they express their best qualities and characteristics.

Since 2002, we have made it our mission to develop a wine-making process that is environmentally friendly as well as regionally compatible. Our winery and vineyards were created to have as little impact on the environment as possible. Learn more about our sustainable practices at Stemmari.

ROTARI TRADITIONAL SPARKLING METHOD

Gruppo Mezzacorona’s jewel, the Rotari Winery, is one of the largest production facilities in Italy for sparkling wines using the Metodo Classico method, the oldest one for producing sparkling wine, based on the second fermentation in the bottle. Characterized by its modern design, the winery has been designed to respect the environment and is perfectly integrated with the surroundings. All of our Rotari wines carry the seal TrentoDOC. Known for over 400 years, this method consists of various steps:

1. The “base” wine: The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are harvested by hand and undergo a soft pressing, in order to release all the typical aromas of the varietal. After sedimentation, the must is transferred to large steel tanks in the Rotari winery, where the first fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature (around 64°F).
2. Tirage and fermentation in the bottle: In spring, the base wine is enriched with sugar and yeast and bottled with crown caps. The bottles are then stored in a horizontal position where the second fermentation (or “prise de mousse “) takes place. Our fine delicate mousse is obtained by ageing on the lees after secondary fermentation; this is a benchmark of our wine and makes Rotari unique.
3. Remuage: The bottles are rotated daily and gradually turned upside down to a vertical position, so that the sediment from the fermentation collects in the bottleneck. Today, mechanical technology replaces the traditional method of turning the bottles. This process, traditionally done by hand with the help of “pupitres” (wooden riddling racks), is now done by machines called “giropalletes” that move 504 bottles at once.
4. Disgorging: The bottles, while still in a vertical position, are inserted into a cooling solution which freezes the neck of the bottle to about -13°F to -22°F, isolating the sediment from the wine. The pressure built up inside the bottle expels the frozen sediment from the bottle when the crown cap is removed, leaving the wine crystal clear. At this point, a dose of “liqueur d’expedition”, a blend of special wines refined in barrique, is added. The bottles are then closed with a traditional cork, sealed with a capsule and a metal cage, labelled and packed. ROTARI is left to rest for a few more months to allow the elements of the wine to combine harmoniously, allowing the wine to obtain its unique characteristics, a delicate bouquet and a finesse befitting the quality grapes from which it was made.