Veneto

The region (Italian: Veneto) is located in the north-east of Italy and is divided into the provinces of Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice (metropolitan city), Verona and Vicenza. It borders the four regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the east, Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy in the west and Emilia-Romagna in the south. The northern tip borders Austria. The landscape and climate are also characterised by the 150-kilometre-long Adriatic coast.

History

Viticulture was already practised here by the Etruscans. Later, the Romans arrived and appreciated the ancient Raeticum wine mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23-79), supposedly a forerunner of today's Recioto wines. In the 15th century, the Republic of Venice ruled the Mediterranean. At this time, viticulture experienced a heyday.

Vineyards, climate & soil

The vineyards cover 94,600 hectares of vineyards on stony, calcareous soils covered with reddish-brown earth. They are located in the plains on the Adriatic coast, on the Po and in the mountains around Lake Garda. The foothills of the Alps in the north provide protection from harsh weather and ensure a favourable microclimate. The climate is generally temperate to Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and sufficient rainfall in winter.

The plains often have high temperatures with humid air, while the hilly areas are much cooler and better ventilated. In the hilly hinterland with its cooler climate, mainly white wines are produced, and on the warmer coast mainly red wines. The soil conditions range from calcareous moraine gravel in the north to volcanic tuff in the Colli Euganei and alluvial loam and clay soils in the alluvial plains.

Grape varieties

Many autochthonous varieties are authorised in the numerous DOC and DOCG areas. Red wine varieties include Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cavrara, Corbina, Corvina/Cruina (Corvina Veronese), Corvinone, Enantio, Groppello di Mocasina or Groppello di Santo Stefano, Groppello Gentile, Incrocio Manzoni 2.15, Manzoni Bianco, Manzoni Moscato, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), Raboso Piave or Friularo, Raboso Veronese, Recantina, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Rondinella, Rosetta (Rossignola), Sangiovese, Schiava Grossa, Schiava Gentile, Schiava Grigia, Tai Rosso (Garnacha Tinta) and Turchetta.

White wine varieties are Bianchetta (Bianchetta Trevigiana), Chardonnay, Cortese, Durella, Friulano/Tai/Tuchì and Sauvignonasse (formerly Tocai Friulano), Garganega, Glera or Serprina (formerly Prosecco Tondo), Glera Lunga (formerly Prosecco Lunga), Malvasia Istriana (Malvazija Istarska), Manzoni Bianco, Manzoni Rosa, Marzemina Bianca, Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc), Moscato Giallo (Goldmuskateller), Moscato Fior d'Arancio (Muscat Fleur d'Oranger), Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola, Perera, Pinella, Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Raboso Piave, Raboso Veronese, Riesling Italico (Welschriesling), Riesling Renano (Riesling), Sauvignon (Sauvignon Blanc), Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio Bianco), Trebbiano Toscano, Verdiso, Verduzzo Friulano, Verduzzo Trevigiano and Vespaiola.

IGT, DOC and DOCG areas

The best-known Veneto wines are the two red wines Bardolino and Valpolicella from the Garda area, as well as the sparkling versions of Prosecco. DOC/DOCG wines account for around 60% of production. Around two thirds come from the area around the city of Verona, which is considered the wine centre of Italy. The IGT (regional wines), DOC and DOCG (quality wines) areas are organised here every year:

• Alto Livenza - also Friuli Venezia Giulia (IGT)
• Amarone della Valpolicella (DOCG)
• Arcole (DOC)
• Asolo Prosecco - until 2014, Colli Asolani Prosecco was also permitted (DOCG)
• Bagnoli di Sopra or Bagnoli (DOC)
• Bagnoli Friularo (DOCG)
• Bardolino DOC)
• Bardolino Superiore and Bardolino Classico Superiore (DOCG)
• Bianco di Custoza or Custoza (DOC)
• Breganze (DOC)
• Colli Berici (DOC)
• Colli di Conegliano (DOCG)
• Colli Euganei (DOC)
• Colli Euganei Fior d'Arancio or Fior d'Arancio Colli Euganei (DOCG)
• Colli Trevigiani (IGT)
• Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco (DOCG)
• Conselvano (IGT)
• Corti Benedettine del Padovano (DOC)
• Delle Venezie - also Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino (DOC)
• Gambellara (DOC)
• Garda - also Lombardy (DOC)
• Lessini Durello or Durello Lessini (DOC)
• Lison - also Friuli Venezia Giulia (DOCG)
• Lison-Pramaggiore - also Friuli Venezia Giulia (DOC)
• Lugana - also Lombardy (DOC)
• Marca Trevigiana (IGT)
• Merlara (DOC)
• Montello e Colli Asolani (DOC)
• Montello Rosso or Montello (DOCG)
• Monti Lessini (DOC)
• Piave or Vini del Piave (DOC)
• Piave Malanotte or Malanotte del Piave (DOCG)
• Prosecco - also Friuli Venezia Giulia (DOC)
• Recioto della Valpolicella (DOCG)
• Recioto di Gambellara (DOCG)
• Recioto di Soave (DOCG)
• Riviera del Brenta (DOC)
• San Martino della Battaglia - also Lombardy (DOC)
• Soave (DOC)
• Soave Superiore and Soave Classico Superiore (DOCG)
• Trevenezie - also Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino (IGT)
• Valdadige or Etschtaler - also Trentino-Alto Adige (DOC)
• Valdadige Terradeiforti or Terradeiforti - also Trentino-Alto Adige (DOC)
• Vallagarina - also Trentino/Trentino-Alto Adige (IGT)
• Valpolicella (DOC)
• Valpolicella Ripasso (DOC)
• Veneto (IGT)
• Veneto Orientale (IGT)
• Venezia (DOC)
• Verona or Provincia di Verona or Veronese (IGT)
• Vicenza (DOC)
• Vigneti della Serenissima or Serenissima (DOC)
• Vigneti delle Dolomiti or Dolomites vineyard - also South Tyrol/Trentino-Alto Adige (IGT)

Image: by daniFAB on Pixabay