Boundaries:
Austria and Trentino-Alto Adige is to the North, to
the South is the Adriatic Sea, Lombardy is to the West and to the
East is Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Climate:
Varied without extreme temperatures.
Soil:
Rocky and alluvial soil.
Grapes:Reds; Cabernet Sauvignon, Corvina,
Merlot, Molinara, Negrara, Pinot Nero, Raboso and Rondinella. Whites;
Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, Tocai,
Trebbiano di Soave and Verduzzo.
Veneto Italian Wine Region- Dallas Bartenders
Veneto is one of the Tre Venezie, the "three
Venices", along with Friuli-Venezia and Trentino-alto Adige.
The region is the third largest producer next to Apulia and Sicily.
Veneto has two distinct section: a flat delta-like area and a mountainous
area. The Po (Italy's lagest river), Adige, Bacchiglione, Brento and
Piave rivers formed the alluvial deposits in the delta-like area that
empty into the Adriatic Sea. The mountainous section includes meadows,
forest, upland plateaus, limestone formations and valleys from Lake
Garda to the Alps. The upper basin of the Piave include an Alpine
area that extends to the north as far as the Carnic Alps with altitudes
of over 9,000 feet.
There are three DOCGs in Veneto: Bardolino Superiore,
Recioto di Soave and Soave Superiore. There are also twenty DOCs which
include: (1) Bagnoli di Sopra, (2) Bardolino (non-superiore), (3)
Bianca di Custoza, (4) Breganzi, (5) Colli Berici, (6) Colli di Conegliano,
(7) Collie Euganei, (8) Gamballera, (9) Garda, (10) Lessini Durello,
(11) Lison-Pramaggiore, (12) Lugana, (13) Montello/Colli Asolani,
(14) Piave, (15) Prosecco di Conegliano, (16) San Martino della Battaglia,
(17) Soave (non-superiore), (18) Valdadige, (19) Valpolicella and
(20) "Veronesi" Amarone.
Veneto Italian Wine Region- Dallas Bartenders
Valpolicella is a blend of three red grapes- Corvina
Veronese, Molinara and Rondinella. Nineteen districts may produce
Valpolicella and five districts in the heart of the growing area are
accorded the right to the classico designation. If the designation
of Superiore is used, it must be aged for one year with an
alcohol content of not less than twelve percent.
Valpolicella is also the base of two other renown
wines- Amarone della Valpolicella (formerly known as Recioto della
Vaalpolicella Amarone) and Recioto della Valpolicella. These wines
are produced with handpicked perfectly ripe grapes and placed in special,
wood-slatted boxes or hung from the ceiling rafters. The boxes are
then kept in well aerated, cool housing where electric fans are turned
on if the weather becomes too warm or humid. After fifteen to thirty
days the clusters are rotated to prevent moisture buildup that could
cause mold. The grapes are left to dry until January 15 or longer
when the grapes have lost 25-60 percent of water content through evaporation.
The grapes are then pressed and a long, cool fermentation takes place
and extends through, March, April or May.
Veneto Italian Wine Region- Dallas Bartenders
Amarone processes all the residual sugar into alcohol
giving it an alcohol content of more than fourteen percent. For Recioto
the fermentation process is stopped by chilling it where residual
sugar is left along with natural carbonation. Recioto comes from the
name rece or "ears", the "ear-like" protrusions
found at the top of each grape bunch; these are the best grapes of
the bunch and are used in Amarone and Recioto. Recioto is a sweet
wine that may be still or sparkling and is usually consummed in the
spring right after bottling.
Ripasso, which means "passing over",
is produced in traditional fashion, however, the Valpolicella is then
fermented for a second time on Amarone lees. Some winemakers may produce
richer results by pouring the Valpolicella over the partially dried
grapes. The results are more flavor, tannin and alcohol than Valpolicella.
These wines are classified as IGT.
Veneto Italian Wine Region- Dallas Bartenders
Bardolino is made from the red grapes, Corvina Veronese,
Molinara and Rondinella, similar to Valpolicella but with different
proporations and from differently grown zones. Bardolino may be produced
as a rose where it is sold under the name Chiaretto.
The white wine Soave is based on the Garganega grape
and may contain up to thirty percent Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Trebbiano
in the blend. Recioto di Soave DOCG is produced the same way as Recioto
della Vaolpolicella and is based on the Garganega variety, contains
up to thirty percent Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Trebbiano di Soave.
Recioto di Soave may be still or sparkling.
Bianco di Custoz and Lugan are light, white wines
based on the Trebbiano grape while Gambellara is made with Garganega,
known as Gambellara locally, and may be dry or sweet. Prosecco di
Conegliano is made with the ancient Prosecco variety and may be dry
or sweet and still or sparkling.
