Veneto
Veneto: The Ancient Doorway to the Orient
The first human settlements of the lagoon and the surrounding areas maintained a simple social structure until the arrival of the Romans in the second century B.C. who divided the land into parcels of about 4,800 square meters and distributed those tracts among the locals to be cultivated. The Romans founded the cities of Verona, Vicenza, and Padova, and named what was then the 10th imperial region, Venetia. Both the Veneto region and the province of Venice (Venezia in Italian) derive their names from the original Latin name of the area.
The Venetian trade routes that connected Europe with Asia brought great wealth and general prosperity to the region. In many provinces, especially around Treviso, mulberry cultivation and the breeding of silkworms imported from China brought more affluence and prestige to local residents. With money pouring in from all quarters, Venice began its great building projects, chief among them creating the lagoon and canal infrastructure and systems still enjoyed and used today. Veneto is among the foremost wine-producing regions, both for quality and quantity. The region counts over 20 DOC zones and a variety of sub-categories, many of its wines, both dry and Spumanti, are internationally known and appreciated.
The three most well known DOCs are Bardolino, from the town with the same name and surrounding the shores of Garda Lake, Valpolicella, and Soave. Other noteworthy wines produced here are the white Bianco di Custoza, the excellent sparkling Prosecco, the Breganze, and the Amarone (a rich and powerful red from the Verona province). If you travel to the Treviso area, look for the little-known Clinton, a wine that is banned from distribution because it does not conform to the DOC standards, but is produced in limited quantities for local consumption.
The importance of winemaking in this region is underscored by the creation in 1885 of the very first Italian school for vine growing and oenology. In addition, Veneto was the first region to constitute the first strada del vino or “wine road”. This first wine-touring road featured special road signs providing information on vines and the wines they were made into and joined the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano DOC zones crossing a series of hilly vineyards.
The Aldegheri family obtains their quality grapes, notable for their rich character, from their many vineyards covering about 42 hectares in the hills of the classic Valpolicella area.
Development and maintanence are managed both directly and through collaboration with an expert viticulturist, who has worked with the company since its founding to ensure the best quality and healthy grapes.
Soave Classico D.O.C. “Mondello”
White Wine
750ml
Highly captivating and pleasant; the flavour is then completed by extreme elegance and perfect harmony.
Lugana D.O.C. “Ca’ Perlar”
White Wine
750ml
This pale, straw-coloured wine is packed with concentrated flavours of exotic fruits, full body giving it great balance between richness and freshness.
Valpolicella Classico Superiore D.O.C. “I Lastari”
Red Wine
750ml
The colour, bouquet and intensity of the flavour suggest a wine for ageing, but the fruit, roundness and harmony.
Corvina/Rondinella/Merlot “SengiaRossa”, Rosso del Veronese I.G.T.
Red Wine
750ml
The complexity of the bouquet, dominated by wild berries, is the first pleasurable impact, rounded off by the perfect harmony of the full, robust body.
“PietrAmara” Rosso del Veronese I.G.T.
Red Wine
750ml
The wine undergoes a long ageing process before being served, first in oak barrels and then in bottles in underground cellars.
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Santambrogio D.O.C.
Red Wine
750ml
The wine is aged gradually, first in oak casks then in smaller oak barrels or “barriques,”in underground cellars.
Recioto della Valpolicella Classico D.O.C.G.
Dessert Wine
750ml
Benvenuto Cellini was a great goldsmith and sculptor in Florence in the 16th century. During one long stay in Venice he discovered the art of fermentation. This trademark is devoted to this great artist and brings the love for perfection and care for details from the world of art to that of wine, distillates and liquors.
Amore Moscato Spumante Cellini
Sparkling Wine
750ml
Fragrant, delicate, markedly sweet with delicate hints of roses.
In the Venetian hinterland just north west of Venice, in the heart of the classic D.O.C. for Prosecco, are the most vocated areas of Collalbrigo, Refrontolo and Feletto where, according to Bonifacio, local wines between the l6th aud l7th ceutury were called “precious” because of their exceptionally high quality.
It is in this area that we can find the ColSaliz vinyards. The hill’s name apparently comes from its characteristic sandy soil, called “saliz” in the local dialect, which confers special features to the area’s Prosecco grapes. The winery, owned by Antonio Faganello, is well equipped with modern facilities but still relies on traditional wine making techniques that have been passed from father to son since 1889.
Prosecco Millesimato Extra Dry, Treviso D.O.C.
Sparkling Wine
750ml
It has a fuller aromatic character and acidity, especially malic acidity, best suited for preservation.
Prosecco “Servo Suo Brut”, Treviso D.O.C. (Yellow Cap)
Sparkling Wine
750ml
Great sparkling wine with hints of flowers and fruit, with a prevalence of green apple.
Prosecco “Servo Suo Dry” ,Treviso D.O.C. (Black Cap)
Sparkling Wine
750ml
The soft, convincing taste, hacked up by a very fine perlage, expands in the mouth after a long sip.
The Monte Zovo winery has belonged to the Cottini family for generations and is situated in Caprino Veronese in the locality of Monte Zovo, the hill which gives the winery its name. Diego Cottini is the owner and wine maker.
The selected grapes are necessary for producing the “Ca’Linverno” and Amarone wines and are produced from here. Monte Zovo has an underground cellar where the wines are left in order to be refined. These cellars give the correct balance between temperature and humidity, essential elements for the natural maturing of the wines.
Pinot Grigio, Veneto I.G.T.
White Wine
750ml
Relly balm on the nose, with flavours which bear in mind fresh fruits and yellow flowers. On the mouth it seems soft, fresh and still sprightly.
Valpolicella D.O.C.
Red Wine
750ml
Delicate in flavours wich bear in mind fresh fruit and spices. On the mouth it is smooth, fresh, round and medium structured.
Corvina/Rondinella/Croatina/Cabernet “Ca’Liverno Rosso”, Rosso del Veronese I.G.T.
Red Wine
750ml
Powerful flavours which bear in mind blackberries, raspberries, juicy fruits, spring flowers and spices; on the mouth is winding, hot and structured.
Ripasso della Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C.
Red Wine
750ml
Intense in flavours which bear in mind soft fruit, raisins and vanilla. At the mouth it is round, hot and well structured.
Amarone della Valpolicella D.O.C.
Red Wine
750ml
On the mouth it is round, hot and weel structured. Really persistent at the end.
Rating: Wine Enthusiast 91