Soave
Garganega grapes
Origin:	Italy
Notable regions:	(see major regions)

Soave (pronounced SWAH-vay) is a dry white wine from the Veneto region in northeast Italy, principally around the city of Verona. It is one of 41 Italian Denominaziones di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) as of August, 2008. Garganega is the designation’s principal grape variety, and over the centuries it has found an ideal habitat.

Contents 1 Regional production 2 Soave DOC 3 Soave Classico DOC 4 Recioto di Soave Superiore DOCG 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Regional production

The Soave production zone is situated in the eastern part of the hills in the province of Verona (north of the Serenissima highway, between the 18th and 25th kilometres of the Verona-Venezia road). The zone includes part or all of the lands belonging to the municipalities of Soave, Monteforte d'Alpone, San Martino Buon Albergo, Lavagno, Mezzane, Caldiero, Colognola, Illasi, Cazzano, Roncà, Montecchia and San Giovanni Ilarione.

[edit] Soave DOC

It's designed to be drunk a year or two after the vintage. It is a user-friendly white, which offers good value for money: a wine from which one expects neither complexity nor ageing potential but rather a clean fragrance and an appealing freshness and delicacy. It is vinified in stainless steel, a method which allows the wine's attractive floral and fruity notes to express themselves fully.

[edit] Soave Classico DOC

The use of the specification "Classico" with the designation "Soave" is reserved for the product made from grapes harvested and vinified in the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone,i.e. the original and oldest classic "zone". Castles, churches, belltowers and luxurious aristocratic villas emerging from the sea of vineyards demontrate the rich history and traditions of this area, closely linked to its principals product. Soave Classico DOC is a more ambitious white, whose restricted production zone lies on the hills in the communes of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone. It often has a slight mineral note on the palate that adds complexity to its floral and fruity character.

[edit] Recioto di Soave Superiore DOCG

The production zone is limited to the hillside sites already noted in the regulations for the production of Recioto di Soave DOCG. there are also new regulations for planting: new vineyards must be trained using Espalier systems with at least 4000 vine per hectare. for those vines planted before 2002, the Espalier system, Pergola Incliante and Pergoletta Veronese are allowed. Soave DOCG may be released on to the market only after 1 September of the year following the harvest and after bottle ageing of at least three month so as to emphatsise characteristic of maturity and complexity. wines aged a minimum of two years may be labelled as "Riserva".

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Consorzio Tutela Vini Soave e Recioto di Soave
• Associazione Strada del Vino dello Soave