📍 Soave

Soave is a wine zone east of Verona in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. It is named after the medieval town of Soave, surrounded by walls and a castle. The oldest, "classico" area lies on the hills around Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, where the soil is volcanic, made of black basalt.

The main grape is Garganega, a white variety that must make up at least 70 per cent of the wine. Verdicchio or Trebbiano di Soave is added to it. The wine is dry, fresh, with notes of almonds and flowers. On the basalt slopes it is usually more mineral and fuller than on the plain.

The zone makes several styles. Plain Soave is light and dry. Soave Superiore is more serious, aged longer, and holds the higher DOCG status. Recioto di Soave is a sweet wine from semi-dried grapes and is also a DOCG. There is sparkling Soave as well.

For comparison with its neighbours: to the west lies Valpolicella, to the east Gambellara, and to the south the plain along the Po, where plenty of simpler grapes grow.