What are the best wines of Veneto - Italy?


Dec 27, 2021

Veneto in northeast Italy is home to wines such as Valpolicella, Amarone, Soave and Prosecco. It produces more wine by volume than any other region in the country. A Beginner’s Guide to the Wines of Veneto

Veneto: Between Mountains and Water

Veneto is located in the northeastern part of Italy. The area near the Adriatic Sea is mainly flat.  As you head further inland, we do find a notable mountainous area towards the northern part of this Italian region.  The climate is primarily continental in the plains area, becoming increasingly mild along the coast and closer to the Lake Garda area.   The eastern shore of Lake Garda does indeed fall within the Veneto region.  The city of Venice, Veneto’s most renowned city, has always been a city tightly connected to wine. 

It's certainly common knowledge that Italy has become one of the world’s largest wine-producing countries, largely thanks to Prosecco. So, it’s likely that if you’re a wine lover, you’ve encountered Prosecco along the way.  But do you know about the other wines that the Veneto region produces?  

Veneto’s Wines

Historically speaking, there’s proof of a very flourishing wine market within Venice’s hallowed halls, particularly around the Rialto Market area.  The wine business overall offered employment in a variety of fields, including Boteri, the makers of wine barrels, which were used in the storage and shipment of wine.

For a peek at the city’s connection to the wine business, head to the Calle dell’Arco, and look for number 456.  Here, the door’s lower section is slightly wider than usual, adjusted in size to let wine barrels easily exit the building.  This memento of Venice’s past tied to the world of wine underscores man’s overall connection with environmental prosperity, and Venice’s ancient wine-making history.

The Veneto region today is a forerunner for the title of Italy’s most prolific wine-producing region in terms of volume.  The wines from the Veneto region include Amarone, Recioto, Soave, Prosecco, Valpolicella and Bardolino, and Lugana selections.   

DOCG Wine Selections

  • Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
  • Bagnoli Friularo or Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG
  • Bardolino Superiore DOCG
  • Colli Asolani Prosecco or Asolo Prosecco DOCG
  • Colli di Conegliano DOCG
  • Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG
  • Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
  • Lison DOCG
  • Montello Rosso or Rosso del Montello DOCG
  • Piave Malanotte or Malanotte del Piave DOCG

Valpolicella’s Amarone Wine 

Many consider Amarone della Valpolicella as Italy’s most important wine - a global appreciation of this wine surely helps elevate the wine to new heights. This special wine is crafted with semi-dried grapes from the Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara varietals.  The end result is always a full-bodied, powerful red wine.  

Valpolicella Ripasso

If you prefer lighter wines, you’ll surely want to taste another Valpolicella wine, perhaps a Valpolicella Ripasso.  The Italian word Ripasso means to pass through again, and is applied to this specific wine type thanks to its production process.

Indeed, Valpolicella Ripasso includes the addition of unpressed grape skins from Amarone or Recioto wines that are added to the second maceration of the Ripasso wines.  

Bardolino Area Wines

What other selections does the Veneto area offer?  There are numerous other options to test for the Veneto wine lover.  Don’t miss the Bardolino red wine, or its Rosé version, Bardolino Chiaretto.  You won’t want to miss an all-time favorite, Pinot Gris.  If instead you’ve got a sweet wine tooth, you must include the sweet Recioto di Soave and Recioto della Valpolicella selections. 

Classic Veneto Cuisine

The wines from the Veneto region pair marvelously with a wide range of different specialty dishes from across the Veneto region.  Here are some typical classic dishes from the Veneto region for you to try out!

Appetizers

  • Venetian-style Scallops (Capesante alla veneziana)
  • Local Snails with Garlic and Parsley (Bovoli conzi)

First Courses

  • Sweet-and-Sour Anchovies  (Sarde in saor)
  • Creamy Rice and Peas (Risi e bisi)
  • Gò-Fish Risotto (Risoto de gò)

Second Courses

  • Venetian-style Liver (Fegato alla veneziana)
  • Venetian Salted Fish (Salacca) 
  • Cured Sheep Haunch Venetian-style (Castradina)

Desserts

  • Venetian Dried Tea Biscuits (Baicoli) 
  • Traditional Apple Cake (Macafame) 


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