Wines of The Veneto

In the Northeast corner of Italy lies the Veneto (pronounced VAY-nuh-toh), one of the three regions that make up the Tre Venezie or Three Venices. While the Veneto may be best known for producing millions of gallons of simple jug wines including Soave, Valpolicella and Bardolino, the area is also home to some of the best wines in the world, most notably Amarone della Valpolicella, and actually accounts for more than 30 percent of Italy’s premium wine production. The Veneto is also Italy’s leading producer of Prosecco and the well-known Santa Margherita pinot grigio.

The Veneto is divided into two distinct climate zones that are influenced by the Italian Alps to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the south. The flat plains in the south of the Veneto are crossed by the Po and Adige rivers, creating rich, fertile farmland where large quantities of fruits and vegetables are grown in the moderate maritime climate. However, as most great wines come from nutrient-poor soil, the vineyards of the Veneto are typically planted in the foothills, where the soil is well-drained and mixed with sand, clay and gravel.

In the west, surrounding the city of Verona, the cooler temperatures in the Alpine foothills create ideal conditions for growing corvina, the primary grape used in valpolicella and Amarone wines. The central part of the Veneto is dominated by white wine production and produces vast amounts of soave and pinot grigio. The eastern part of the Veneto, due north of Venice, is where most of the world’s prosecco is produced including the wines of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and Prosecco di Conegliano.

For this week’s tasting, we chose two wines from a favorite producer, Santi Winery located in the western part of the Veneto near the shores of Lake Garda. The winery was founded in 1843 by Carlo Santi and is devoted to creating many fine examples of classic Veneto wines.

Santi Moscato Montedoro 2010
Appearance: very light canary yellow
Aroma: honey comb nose with sweet citrus undertones
Flavors: more honey comb flavors with the citrus coming through with some melon notes as well
Finishing Notes: very well balanced with the sweetness not cloying on the palate, and the fruit becomes balanced with a crisp acidity on the finish which is very long

Santi Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC Solane
Appearance: cloudy brick red
Aroma: prune, raisin and a touch of plum in the nose
Flavors: light with dried fruit flavors and underlying mushroom and earthy notes
Finishing Notes: finishes with a sweet tart and dark chocolate flavor

Food Pairing:
– Moscato: pairs nicely with most soft or hard cheeses, is a nice accompaniment to lighter seafood dishes and will balance out some spice in brighter Thai or Asian fish choices as well.
– Valpolicella: a versatile wine that will do most beef, lamb, duck or pork dishes well. Will pair nicely with sauces that are based around dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins or dried cranberries or cherries.

Perfect Pairing:
A sampling of some European cheeses is our suggestion with the Moscato, such as Manchego, Camembert, Asiago, and fresh Mozzarella
For the Valpolicella we pair a boursin cheese, mushroom and red pepper stuffed pork chop, bacon wrapped and baked with a red wine wild mushroom demi glace.

Weekly Wine Trivia

Originated in Venice, Italy, what is the name of the famous cocktail that combines prosecco with the juice of fresh white peaches?

We have had no winners for the first two Wine:30 articles, so get you guesses in! Email your answer to Karl & Jody at [email protected]. The first correct answer in their inbox will receive a complimentary bottle of wine from them. We want to give someone some wine! Cheers!

Last week’s question: What is the new vineyard nickname for the “Three Palms Vineyard”?
Answer: 2 1/2 Palms (one of the palm trees blew down and was replaced by a tree half as tall)