North East Italy - Veneto

Question 1

What’s the size and importance of this region to Italy?

Answer 1

1) Largest wine producing region in Italy (most years): due to prosecco and Pinot Grigio.

Question 2

1) What’s the climate in the region?
2) What are the cooling influences?
3) What’s the main challenge affecting the vineyards on plain terrain?

Answer 2

1) Warm, moderately Continental
2) Moderate rainfall
3) Cooling influences: altitude (hillside vineyards) and cooling breezes from Lake Garda.
4) Flat plains are affected by air moist and fog (Rivers Adige & Po) - requiring more spray to control diseases.

Question 3

General overview of the soils in the region and how to they impact the DOC’s Valpolicella and Soave particularly.

Answer 3

1) General very fertile (particularly on the plains) - high yield
2) Hillside sites are better drained and less rich
3) DOC’s Valpolicella and Soave extend to the plains = quality can vary greatly (good - outstanding)

Question 4

1) Where is this DOC located?
2) This DOC is divided in 2 distinct parts; give a general overview of each.
3) What types of soil can be found in the North part of the DOC and how they influence the quality / style of wines produced?

Answer 4

1) East of Verona
2) 2 parts: foothills to the North, plains to south, near the river Adige
3) Plains near the river: sandy and alluvial soils
4) Hillside soils: limestone, clay, basalt
5) Naturally cool soils + altitude = slow down ripening (retains acidity + full flavour ripeness)

Question 5

1) What are the permitted grape varietes in Soave DOC?
2) Give an overview of Garganega, including price and quality levels?

Answer 5

1) Garganega, Trebbiano Di Soave (Verdicchio) and Chard
2) Garganega: historic in Veneto
3) High yielding, vigorous and late ripening
4) When correctly managed, can produce quality grapes even at high yields.
5) Quality: good - v good
6) Price: inexpensive to mid-priced

Question 6

1) How much wine is produced under this DOC level?
2) What grape varieties are permitted and what’s the blending ratio?
3) What’s the maximum yield in this DOC?

Answer 6

1) Production level: 80% of all wine in Soave
2) Grapes from the entire region.
3) Garganega: 70%; up to 30% of Trebbiano Di Soave and Chardonnay
4) High yield: 105hL/ha

Question 7

1) What’s the volume produced in this DOC?
2) Where do the grapes come from?
3) What’s the max yield permitted?

Answer 7

1) Around 20% of all the wine produced in the region
2) Grapes from the hilly Classico region
3) Varieties: same rules as Soave DOC
4) Slightly lower yields: 98hL/ha

Question 8

1) Where do the grapes come from?
2) What are the rules for grape varieties and blending?
3) What’s the max yield?

Answer 8

1) Same hilly zone as Recioto Di Soave DOCG
2) Same rules as Soave DOC
3) Higher alcohol levels
4) Lower yield: 70hL/ha

Question 9

1) Where do the grapes come from?
2) What are the rules for grape varieties / blending?
3) What’s the distinct winemaking techinique used here?
4) What’s the max yield permitted here?

Answer 9

1) Grapes come from a delimited zone (north part of the Soave DOC
2) Same rules for grape varieties / blending as Soave
3) Appassimento is used here.
4) Wines are rich, floral, honeyedgo in acid.
5) Max yield: 36hL/ha

Question 10

1) Production structure in the region: producers x bottlers?
2) What’s the current trend in Soave, with the growth of PG’s popularity?

Answer 10

1) Region of small growers (avg 2ha) large bottlers
2) Cantina di Soave: largest coop, bottles just under 50% of total wine made.
3) Soave has lost ground to Pinot Grigio
4) 80% of production is exported (UK & Germany)
5) Old, low quality Garganega vines are being replaced with PG
6) Reputation used to be associated with the Classico zone or individual producers
7) The Consorzio has mapped individual vineyards in an effort to reposition Soave as a higher quality wine.