Nosiola
How to pronounce Nosiola
Trentino's hazelnut-scented native white grape, producing everything from crisp alpine whites to legendary Vino Santo dessert wines.
Nosiola is Trentino's most distinctive indigenous white grape, named for the Italian word for hazelnut, 'nocciola.' Grown across Valle dei Laghi, Lavis, and Sorni, it produces light-bodied dry whites and the revered Vino Santo. Plantings have declined sharply, from 193 hectares in 2000 to around 65 to 79 hectares by the 2010s.
- Name derives from 'nocciola,' the Italian word for hazelnut, reflecting the grape's signature aroma
- DNA analysis confirms a genetic relationship to the Swiss grape Rèze
- Plantings declined from 193 hectares in 2000 to approximately 65 to 79 hectares by the 2010s
- Vino Santo production requires drying grapes on racks until 60 to 80% of original weight is lost
- Vino Santo must reach minimum 16% alcohol and age at least 3 years in oak
- Loose bunch structure makes the grape susceptible to noble rot, ideal for botrytized sweet wines
- Thrives in terraced hillside vineyards called 'frate' in sunny, well-ventilated alpine conditions
Origins and History
Nosiola is one of Trentino's oldest documented grape varieties, with references in historical archives dating to 1800. Believed to have originated in Trentino or possibly neighboring Alto Adige, the variety was once widely cultivated throughout the region. DNA analysis has since confirmed a genetic relationship to Rèze, an indigenous Swiss variety, pointing to ancient alpine viticulture connections. Despite this heritage, Nosiola faced widespread abandonment in recent decades due to its low yields and late ripening, which made it less commercially appealing than other varieties.
- Historical records reference Nosiola as far back as 1800
- Genetic link to Swiss grape Rèze confirmed through DNA analysis
- Believed to have originated in Trentino or Alto Adige
- Declined sharply due to low yields and challenging late ripening
Where It Grows
Nosiola is cultivated across several key areas in Trentino, with the Valle dei Laghi, Toblino, Lavis, Pressano, and Sorni subzones representing its heartland. Vineyards sit at elevations between 500 and 1000 metres in the alpine landscape, planted on terraced hillside sites known locally as 'frate.' The soils are fluvio-glacial in character, with marl, chalk, and porphyritic rock also present. The climate is temperate, sunny, and well-ventilated, with breezes from Lake Garda playing an important moderating role. The variety is sensitive to humidity and prone to fungal disease in wetter conditions.
- Key zones include Valle dei Laghi, Toblino, Lavis, Pressano, and Sorni
- Vineyards range from 500 to 1000 metres elevation
- Soils are fluvio-glacial with marl, chalk, and porphyritic rock
- Lake Garda breezes moderate the alpine climate
Wine Styles
Nosiola produces a range of wine styles. As a dry varietal white, it delivers a light body with citrus, apricot, peach, and hazelnut aromas. Sparkling and skin-macerated versions also exist. The grape's most celebrated expression is Vino Santo, a rare amber dessert wine produced in the Valle dei Laghi. Grapes are dried on racks called 'arele' until they lose 60 to 80% of their original weight. The loose bunch structure leaves the grapes vulnerable to noble rot during drying, adding complexity. The resulting wine must reach a minimum of 16% alcohol and age at least 3 years in oak before release.
- Dry varietal whites show citrus, apricot, peach, and hazelnut character
- Vino Santo requires 60 to 80% weight loss through grape drying
- Noble rot develops naturally during drying due to loose bunch structure
- Vino Santo must hit 16% minimum alcohol and 3 years oak aging
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Nosiola falls under the Trentino DOC and features in several other denominations. For 100% varietal wines, regulations cap yields at 14 tonnes per hectare and require a minimum alcohol level of 10.5%. Vino Santo carries stricter requirements, with a minimum of 16% alcohol and mandatory oak aging of at least 3 years. Nosiola also appears as a blending component in the Valdadige DOC and as the sole permitted variety in the Sorni subzone. The grape buds early, making it susceptible to spring frosts, and ripens in the mid to late season.
- Varietal wines: maximum 14 t/ha yield, minimum 10.5% alcohol
- Vino Santo: minimum 16% alcohol, at least 3 years oak aging
- Used as a blend component in Valdadige DOC
- Sole variety permitted in the Sorni subzone of Trentino DOC
Light-bodied and aromatic with citrus, apricot, peach, and the signature hazelnut note that gives the grape its name. Vino Santo versions are rich, amber, and complex with dried fruit, honey, and oxidative oak character from extended drying and aging.
- Cavit Nosiola Trentino DOC$12-18Widely available entry point showcasing Nosiola's citrus and hazelnut character from the Trentino cooperative.Find →
- Cantina Lavis Nosiola Trentino DOC$15-20Crisp, light-bodied varietal from the Lavis subzone, one of Nosiola's historic heartlands.Find →
- Cesconi Nosiola Trentino DOC$22-30Estate-grown Nosiola from a quality-focused Trentino producer with mineral alpine precision.Find →
- Pravis Nosiola Le Frate$25-35Named for the traditional terraced vineyards; textbook example of skin-contact Nosiola from Valle dei Laghi.Find →
- Cantina di Toblino Vino Santo Trentino DOC$55-80Benchmark Vino Santo from the Toblino zone; dried-grape complexity with oak aging meets noble rot richness.Find →
- Nosiola is classified as an indigenous white variety of Trentino; DNA analysis links it to Swiss grape Rèze
- Varietal rules: maximum yield 14 t/ha, minimum 10.5% alcohol for dry whites under Trentino DOC
- Vino Santo: grapes dried until 60 to 80% weight loss, minimum 16% alcohol, minimum 3 years oak aging
- Loose bunch structure encourages noble rot during drying, contributing to Vino Santo complexity
- Plantings fell from 193 ha in 2000 to approximately 65 to 79 ha by the 2010s due to low yields and late ripening