Val di Non is a large valley in Trentino where apples have been grown for centuries. Seen from above it looks like a green sea of orderly rows, with the orchards climbing gently up the slopes to the villages and the castles. Here apples are not just a product: they are the landscape, the economy and the rhythm of the seasons. In this guide we tell you what makes the apples of this valley special, which are the main varieties, how they are stored and when the valley fills with flowers. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming guests in Trentino for a long time, and Val di Non is one of those destinations we would recommend to anyone who loves nature and real flavours.
1. La Mela Val di Non DOP
The Mela Val di Non was the first apple in Italy to receive DOP status, the Protected Designation of Origin, the European mark that ties a product to its territory. The certification arrived in 2003 and since then it protects the apples grown in this valley according to precise rules. It means an apple can only be called this if it really is born here, in Val di Non, with traditional methods.
The secret lies in the territory. The valley sits at altitude, between about 400 and 1000 metres, where warm days and cool nights give the apples an intense aroma, a crisp flesh and just the right balance between sweet and tart. The clean mountain air, the water and the exposure to the sun do the rest. It is a fruit that tells the story of the valley where it grows.
2. Le varieta principali
The DOP of Val di Non covers three historic varieties. The most widespread is the Golden Delicious, an apple with a yellow, golden skin, sweet, juicy and fragrant, perfect to eat raw or to cook. It is the apple you have almost certainly already tasted, but here in the valley it reaches a particular quality.
Alongside it there are the Renetta Canada and the Red Delicious. The Renetta Canada has a rough skin and a bold, slightly tart flavour, and it is the favourite for sweets, in particular for strudel. The Red Delicious, with its deep red skin and elongated shape, is sweet and crisp, ideal to enjoy by the bite. Three different apples, all linked by the same landscape.
3. Melinda e le celle nella roccia
Most of the apples of the valley are gathered under the name Melinda, the consortium that brings together the local growing families. It is a project born to give the small producers the strength to work together, while keeping at the same time the craftsman's care of the family orchards.
The most surprising thing is where the apples are stored. Melinda has carved out dozens of cold-storage cells inside the dolomite rock of the mountain, in an old mine near Predaia, hundreds of metres deep below the orchards. The rock keeps a naturally cold and stable temperature, and this allows the apples to be stored for a long time using very little energy. It is the only facility in the world that keeps fruit underground in this way.
4. La fioritura di primavera
If there is a moment when Val di Non is magical, it is the apple blossom. For a few weeks in spring, usually between mid-April and early May, thousands of trees cover themselves with white and pink flowers. The dates vary a little from year to year and with altitude: the orchards lower down bloom first, then little by little those higher up.
In those days the valley smells of flowers and the slopes become a light carpet that stretches as far as the eye can see. It is the ideal time for a walk or a bike ride among the rows, with the mountains still snowy in the background. Many villages in the valley organise walks and events dedicated to exactly this spectacle. Check the updated dates on the valley's official sites before you set off, because they change every year.
5. Visitare la valle dei meleti
Val di Non is not only apples: it is a valley rich in landscapes, castles and places of faith to discover while walking among the orchards. Among the most loved destinations is the Santuario di San Romedio, near Sanzeno, one of the most spectacular sanctuaries in the Alps: five little churches stacked on a spur of rock, connected by a long covered stairway. A place that alone is worth the trip.
In autumn the valley lives the time of the harvest: it is the moment when the orchards fill with ripe apples and the air smells of fruit. In spring, instead, it is the blossom that colours everything. In every season you can walk or cycle the paths among the apple trees, stop in the villages and taste the apples directly from the producers. It is a slow and authentic way to get to know Trentino.
Dove vivere la Val di Non e le sue mele
The best moment to discover this valley is during the spring blossom, when the orchards dress in white, or in autumn, in the days of the harvest. They are two different and unforgettable experiences, and in both the apples remain the protagonists. Between a walk among the rows, a visit to San Romedio and a taste of freshly picked apples, you already have a full holiday in your hands.
We at Italy Holiday welcome guests in the areas of Trentino from which Val di Non is a lovely day trip, in homes designed to make you feel at home from the first moment. Staying in our areas you have the valley, its paths and its flavours within easy reach. Discover where to stay and pack your bags: the orchards of Val di Non are waiting for you.
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