VENETIAN WINES

Among the wines of Veneto, you can find several renowned and well-known types, such as Prosecco and Amarone della Valpolicella. These wines have gained fame both nationally and internationally, achieving significant success among wine connoisseurs.

Venetian Wines: Taste and Winemaking Culture

In the heart of the Veneto region, the imposing mountainous landscapes of the Asiago Plateau, Monte Grappa, and the picturesque Dolomite ranges stand majestically. Toward the sea, the plain stretches widely, embracing a coastline bordered by the mouths of the Po and Tagliamento rivers. Numerous significant rivers traverse the entire region, such as the Po, Adige, Piave, Brenta, Bacchiglione, Livenza, and Sile. Veneto can also boast the eastern shore of the marvelous Lake Garda.

The temperate climate of the coastal strip bestows cold winters and warm summers, but as one moves away from the sea, the typical features of a continental climate become evident, with strong seasonal temperature fluctuations and an increase in rainfall.

It's thanks to the valuable resources of the Venetian territory and the diversity of vineyard soils that the grapevines can absorb essential mineral substances, imparting unique characteristics to Venetian wines. For instance, the basaltic soils of the Monti Lessini, rich in iron and manganese, lend sapidity and freshness to the wines; in the area between Soave and Gambellara, the volcanic tufaceous-limestone soils enhance the mineral notes of Garganega grapes; in the southwestern plain, sandy soils bestow elegance upon many Venetian white wines, while sandy-clayey soils are ideal for producing fresh wines meant to be enjoyed young.

Among the most widespread vine training systems in Veneto, we find the Guyot, Sylvoz, Pergola, Tendone Veronese, Cortine, and Bellussi, the latter exclusively present in the Treviso and Venice plains.

These unique features of the Venetian territory and the winemaking artistry of the viticulturists are reflected in the extraordinary variety and quality of "Venetian wines", making them an authentic culinary treasure to discover and appreciate.

Venetian Red Wine: Notes of Passion and Flavor

Among the wines of Veneto, there are significant denominations of red wines, celebrated worldwide for their reputation and quality. Among these, three true oenological icons stand out: Amarone, Valpolicella, and Recioto.

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

The most renowned and sought-after among Venetian red wines is undoubtedly Amarone della Valpolicella, a dry red wine obtained from dried grapes. It is born from the drying of healthy, mature, and carefully selected grapes on racks, starting from the harvest. For the drying process to occur properly, the drying rooms must be well-ventilated to prevent the formation of molds that could damage the precious harvest. The average duration of grape drying is about 120 days, but each winemaker, based on the vintage and their style, can decide to extend or shorten this period.

Once the proper degree of drying is reached, the winemaking process proceeds, involving a long maceration of the grape skins, typical of red wines. Amarone DOCG requires a minimum aging period of 3 years before being released to the market, while the Riserva version demands a maturation period of 4 years.

Thanks to its structure and bitter-sweet notes, this Venetian red wine pairs perfectly with roasts, game meats, and spicy cheeses. However, its characteristics make it equally suitable for savoring on its own, as a contemplative wine.

Interestingly, it is said that Amarone actually originated as a Venetian wine born by mistake during the production of Recioto. The latter, in fact, boasts an even older tradition than Amarone and is produced from the same grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone.

Valpolicella DOC and Superiore

Valpolicella DOC and Superiore is a wine with an unmistakable charm, primarily crafted from Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes, cultivated with love and dedication in the lands of 19 municipalities in the northern province of Verona. Its warm, deep ruby-red color captures the gaze, while the vinous and pleasing aroma reveals notes that sometimes evoke bitter almonds, providing a unique sensory experience.

Upon the first sip, Valpolicella unveils a dry, full-bodied, enveloping taste with a subtle touch of bitterness, creating a harmonious blend of sensations on the palate. A true pleasure for the senses, this wine pairs wonderfully with white meats and cheeses, transforming every bite into an unforgettable moment.

And if Valpolicella already delights the palate, its noble sibling, Valpolicella Superiore, stands out with even greater refinement. Crafted from selected grapes and aged for at least a year, it acquires that characteristic and captivating intense ruby red color. This superior wine is like a precious gem of Italian winemaking tradition.

Valpolicella Superiore is a perfect companion for moments of conviviality, especially when paired with game meats and exquisite roasts. Its robust personality and complex bouquet of aromas make it an excellent choice to celebrate the joys of the table and life itself. Allow yourselves to be captivated by the magic of these wines and let them transport you on a journey of unparalleled oenological emotions.

Recioto della Valpolicella

Recioto della Valpolicella is a Venetian red wine with a captivating and enveloping character, a true sweet delight DOCG of the Veneto region. It finds its exclusive home in the picturesque Valpolicella, in the province of Verona, amidst the green hills abundant with native grape varieties. Unlike Amarone, Recioto doesn't undergo extended aging; it's ready to deliver emotions from the very first sip.

Its rich ruby hue immediately captures attention, and the intense and enveloping aroma unfolds like a dance of fragrances, hinting at its unique and refined character. But it's on the palate that Recioto della Valpolicella fully reveals its charm: a full and velvety taste that delicately envelops the palate, leaving a sensation of warm sweetness that blends in perfect harmony with the senses.

It's a wine that lends itself to moments of pure pleasure, an oenological experience to be savored with ecstasy and slowness. It elegantly pairs with intense chocolate, creating a perfect blend of sweetness and complexity, a duet of delights that dances on the tongue.

And if you want to enhance its refinement, there's nothing better than pandoro, a traditional sweet that shares with Recioto the allure of authenticity and tradition.

Thus, let yourself be enveloped by the scents and flavors of Recioto della Valpolicella, and treat yourself to a moment of pure enjoyment. This wine is a true palate joy, an oenological masterpiece that enchants and captivates, a liquid poetry capable of transforming every sip into a unique and unforgettable experience.

Venetian White Wine: Amidst Vineyards and Passions

Beyond the renowned red wines of Veneto, the region boasts an equally celebrated and esteemed range of white wines. Among the Venetian oenological gems, we find the DOP Soave, Lugana DOC, and the famous Prosecco, recognized and loved worldwide.

Soave Dop and Soave Superiore

The historic hills of Soave are characterized by four main types of soil, each contributing a distinct identity to the Soave DOP and Soave Superiore wines. These four zones, while providing a common foundation for the wine, manage to bestow ever-new nuances and peculiarities.

To simplify the description of soil types, let's focus on altitude. Soave has a volcanic origin, and as we ascend the hills, we approach the remnants of the volcano that gave birth to this territory 50-90 million years ago.

The volcanic hills are characterized by basaltic soils in the central-eastern Lessinia area. These soils, formed in a marine environment over three geological eras, display variable colors such as gray, yellow, and reddish due to oxidation levels. The hill slopes range from 10° to 80°, and the soils are assumed to be more fertile due to ancient cultivation. These soils bestow the wines with fragrance, freshness, and pronounced acidity, featuring notes of cinnamon, cherry, and almond that make them truly unique.

The limestone hills are found in the western part of the denomination, showcasing shallow soils with rocky substrates. As we descend into the valley, depth increases and fertility becomes more apparent. The diversity of the substrate creates varied growth conditions, giving rise to elegant and complex Soave wines with aromas of ripe and exotic fruits.

In the volcanic-origin plain of the Monteforte Valley, the non-calcareous soils are particularly fertile due to the high clay and volcanic debris content from the underlying hills. These clay soils grant the wines good consistency in vintages and prove resistant to drought due to their permeability. Wines from this area feature notes of cinnamon, spices, berries, and cherries, with high acidity making them fresh and balanced.

Lastly, the limestone plain is characterized by alluvial soils, formed by deposits brought downstream by intense rainfall and floods from local streams in the Val d’Alpone and the foothills of the Veronese hills. The soil consistency is mainly fine, but it can become sandy and rocky in stream areas. These soils contribute to crafting the Venetian white wine Soave with exceptional aromatic finesse, intensity, and persistence that render them truly unique.

Moreover, the principal grape variety of Soave is Garganega, a native grape with a thick skin that imparts scents of almond and white flowers. This variety, alongside others like Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio, lends the DOP Soave and Soave Superiore white wines their distinctive character.

Lugana DOC Wines

The terroir of Lugana is characterized by layered clay soils of morainic origin, predominantly limestone-rich and abundant in mineral salts. This specific type of soil can be compact and hard during drought but turns soft and muddy after rain. However, these chemical and physical characteristics are the secret behind the aromatic heritage of Lugana, bestowing upon this Venetian white wine vibrant and clear scents ranging from almond to citrus, along with well-balanced acidity and salinity.

The microclimate of Lugana is favorable, thanks to the temperate breezes from Lake Garda. The climate is mild and stable, with minimal temperature variations between day and night. This "climatic cradle" is ideal for accentuating the peculiarities of the Trebbiano di Lugana grape, the variety used to produce wines in this area, also known as Turbiana.

Turbiana is a grape variety closely related to Trebbiano di Soave, although the vineyards of the latter have a volcanic-origin soil, different from the morainic soil of Lugana. Recent studies have demonstrated that Turbiana distinguishes itself from Verdicchio due to its unique aromatic characteristics, as well as differences in phenology, agronomics, and winemaking.

Turbiana is less productive compared to other national Trebbiano varieties. Its clusters are moderately compact and elongated, pyramid-shaped, with spheroid-shaped berries and a moderately pruinose skin (having a white flour-like coating during maturation). The pulp is juicy, soft, and slightly acidic, with a neutral taste. This grape variety is susceptible to rot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. When vinified as a single variety, Turbiana showcases versatility, appearing in both classic white versions and sparkling iterations.

Prosecco Sparkling Wine

Two thousand years of effervescent history, a story named Prosecco.

The production of Prosecco DOC takes place with care and attention to achieve a high-quality Venetian wine. The ripeness of Glera grapes, when their organoleptic characteristics are ideal for an excellent Prosecco DOC, is reached between late August and the first weeks of September.

The grapes are swiftly brought from the vineyard to the cellar, maintaining low temperatures to preserve their aromas. In the cellar, the white grapes are gently pressed to obtain the must, which is destined for vinification. Fermentation, driven by yeast action, occurs at a controlled temperature for about 15/20 days, preserving the more delicate aromas.

After fermentation, the must transforms into wine, which can be used as-is for the production of still Prosecco DOC or can undergo an additional natural fermentation to become sparkling, using the Martinotti-Charmat method.

This second fermentation takes place in sealed autoclaves, called tanks, and lasts for at least 30 days, during which Prosecco DOC gains its famous bubbles. Moreover, operators can halt the fermentation at very low temperatures to maintain a pleasant sweetness in Prosecco DOC.

Meticulous attention and precise processes make Prosecco DOC a prized Venetian white wine loved and cherished around the world.

Explore our selection of exquisite Venetian wines on ItalianWineLover

We have chosen some of the finest oenological treasures from the region for you:

1. Mionetto Prosecco Avantgarde Collection Brut Treviso DOC: An elegant and dry sparkling wine with a floral aroma and hints of sweet fruits like peaches and apricots. On the palate, it's dry yet smooth with a slightly bitter finish. Perfect with raw vegetables, premium mushrooms, grilled fish, and white meat. Mionetto should be enjoyed at 4 to 6 degrees Celsius using a flute glass to enhance the bubbles.
2. Santa Margherita Prosecco 52 Brut Millesimato Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG: Intense straw yellow in color, it has a fresh aroma with floral and sweet fruit notes. On the palate, it's fresh and quite smooth with a subtle touch of sweetness. Ideal with dishes of raw or grilled fish and flavorful vegetables.
3. Bortolomiol Prosecco Prior Brut Millesimato Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG: An excellent sparkling wine from the renowned Venetian winery. The number one in Bortolomiol's traditional DOCG line. The name "Prior" and the Roman numeral on the capsule recall its being the first Brut sparkling wine created by Bortolomiol when Valdobbiadene Prosecco was still only Extra Dry. A symbol of Giuliano Bortolomiol's pioneering spirit, who believed in Valdobbiadene Prosecco and the Martinotti-Charmat or Italian method of sparkling.
4. Tommasi Il Sestante Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC: A Venetian red wine with deep ruby reflections, it exudes intense aromas of ripe cherry and plum, followed by slightly floral and ethereal notes. On the palate, it's full-bodied and structured, with soft tannins that enhance the richness of the fruit, balanced by a savory and persistent finish. Perfect with white and red meats, aged cheeses, and small game. It comes from estate-owned vineyards in the hilly area of Valpolicella.

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