The Long History and Traditions of Veneto Wines

This story has its roots in ancient and unknown times. In fact, it is thought that even before the Greeks, who imported to Italy different varieties of vines and a real wine culture, some local wild grapes were already being cultivated in the area, as shown by some archaeological research. It is certain that Etruscan-Roman populations such as the Arusnati, who inhabited the region several centuries before Christ, were familiar with the fruits of the vine and their ability to ferment into alcoholic nectars. Latin authors such as Martial, Suetonius, Pliny the Elder, Catullus and Virgil refer to local production as a widespread and long-standing phenomenon, praising the results.

The first important evidence of a well-defined Veneto wine, known at the time as Acinatico, dates back to the 6th century AD. It was probably a sweet variety, considered today as the ancestor of the Recioto type, particularly appreciated by Cassiodorus, the learned minister of the Ostrogoth king Theodoric the Great. Two centuries later, the Longobard king Rotari, concerned about protecting the heritage of vines, established penalties and sanctions for stealing grapes or devastating vineyards, confirming the importance that wine-growing had also assumed in economic terms. During the Middle Ages and even more so in the Modern Age, the commercial and political power of Venice contributed significantly to the spread of Veneto specialities. After the destruction of a large part of the vineyards by phylloxera and other vine diseases in the 19th century, wine-growing in the Veneto underwent a significant revival under the impetus of the Conegliano School of Enology, founded in 1876, and the work of brilliant producers. During the twentieth century and, even more so, in recent decades, the region's production has seen a huge increase in quality that has contributed significantly to the spread of its products throughout the world. Just think of Amarone, which is now known and appreciated everywhere, from America to Japan, or of Prosecco Veneto which, with its irresistible bubbles, has become a social phenomenon associated with celebration and fun.

The Different Territories and Their Expressions

The region can boast the presence of both a vast number of very characteristic indigenous grape varieties and a consistent internal diversification of territories that give different expressions and their own characteristics. The western area is marked by the presence of Lake Garda which, with its breezes, makes the climate mild and constant. Here the vine is found with citrus fruits and olive trees, all planted on thin, pebbly soil. From local grapes such as Corvina and Rondinella comes one of the best known wines of the Veneto, Bardolino DOC, also produced in a rosé variant called Bardolino Chiaretto. Not far away, from various white grapes, including the typical Garganega, comes the Bianco di Custoza DOC, today extraordinarily appreciated for its beautiful expressiveness and also for the excellent quality/price ratio with which it is sold. Excellent expressions of Lugana, in an area bordering with Lombardy, are born on this side, whose main production area is the vineyard area of Peschiera del Garda.

Remaining in the province of Verona, further east, we find a hilly area called Valpolicella, known for the great expressions of red wines made from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes: Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC and Amarone DOCG. Not far away, from the volcanic slopes of the Lessini mountains to the Berici Hills in the province of Vicenza, is an area populated by great whites, led by Garganega, which in their respective territories can take on the names of Soave and Gambellara, with their respective sweet passito interpretations protected by DOCG: Recioto di Soave and Recioto di Gambellara. The territory also includes Trebbiano di Soave and Durello, from which excellent sparkling wines are also made. Further north in the province of Vicenza, the territory of Breganze offers a high level passito wine known as Torcolato, obtained from an indigenous vine called Vespaiola.

In the province of Padua there is the area of the Euganean hills, also of volcanic origin, where we find, together with international red vines that give life to robust and structured interpretations known as Super-Venetian, the Moscato Giallo, from which we obtain the aromatic and sweet Fior d'Arancio, both in sparkling and passito versions. In the north of the region, the province of Treviso stands out for its importance in production, where Prosecco is made from Glera grapes, which finds its excellence in the areas protected by the DOCG Colli Asolani and, above all, Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, a denomination known throughout the world. Other areas highly suited to wine-growing are the Piave Valley and the Lison-Pramaggiore area, home to excellent expressions of Veneto red wine, as well as white and sparkling wines.

These are just a few significant examples and a brief summary of the region's wine production, an extraordinarily productive area that offers indispensable excellence known throughout the world. If you too are a fan of fine wine and would like to learn more about Veneto wines, discover the selections on sale on Callmewine, the online wine shop, at a special price.