Wines from Veneto

Just 1.5 kilometres separate the vineyards of Capitel Croce and Foscarino – yet geologically, they are worlds apart. Whilst Foscarino is rooted in volcanic rock, Croce sits atop the pure limestone of the Zoppega hill. "Croce like Calcareo," Roberto likes to say as a mnemonic. Here, in the highest-altitude areas of his estate, his perhaps most uncompromising wine has been thriving since 1982: 100% Garganega, aged for eight months in old Allier barriques. What makes this wine so exceptional is not only its provenance, but Roberto's radical approach: just 45 hectolitres per hectare, late selective harvest with up to twelve passes, until only the most perfect berries remain. Fermentation takes place directly in the barrique, allowing the fruit and wood to blend from the very start.

Soave Classico Wild from the Ponsara UGA is sunny and straw-yellow in colour. The complex nose ranges from a strong floral note of broom and hawthorn to fresh, fragrant fruit reminiscent of Granny Smith apples. On the palate, it displays a vibrant freshness that is very well-balanced and perfectly complemented by a lingering, intense finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Vulcaia is more than just a wine – it is Stefano Inama's bold vision from 1991, which aimed to demonstrate the potential of the Soave Classico region not through its classic Garganega, but through a revolutionary interpretation of Sauvignon Bianco. The name Vulcaia refers to the volcanic basalt soils of Monte Foscarino, which give this French grape variety a completely new identity. The vineyards at the foot of the mountain benefit from a unique geological constellation: this is where the basaltic lava soils – formed 30 million years ago – meet a microclimate that "domesticates" the Sauvignon and transforms its typical notes in favour of a territorial character. The volcanic terroir with its iron-rich volcanic rock formations gives the grapes a mineral complexity that is unrivalled in other growing regions.

In 1919, Guglielmo Negroni founded his distillery in the heart of Treviso – since then, the original recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. This Fernet is in the great tradition of Italian herbal bitters: an infusion of rhubarb, gentian, aloe and mint forms the aromatic foundation. Intense and decisive in flavour, without compromise. The dark amber colour announces what is to follow: a powerful bitter with spicy depth, balsamic notes and that characteristic menthol-fresh finish that distinguishes Fernet from the gentler Amaro. At 39% vol. as a classic digestivo after a sumptuous meal or – very Italian – with a shot of cola as a different kind of caffè corretto. A piece of Treviso in a glass, uncompromisingly bitter, uncompromisingly good. SUPERIORE.DE

Tenuta Missoj is a small winery in Mizzole with just 3.5 hectares of vineyards and is owned by the Campagnola family. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of 200 metres on a well-ventilated and exposed hill, where the grapes can reach perfect and complete ripeness. The new prestige wine Valpolicella Ripasso "Tenuta di Missoj" comes from these soils, which already impressively showcased the typical characteristics of the appellation in the 2019 debut vintage.

Pojega is a historic vineyard next to the famous Pojega garden, which was purchased by the Rizzardi family in the 17th century. This single-vineyard Valpolicella skilfully combines the fruitiness and aromatic richness of the traditional grape, enhanced by the Ripasso method, with a well-proportioned body and exceptional finesse. Great value with an almost magnetic attraction! SUPERIORE.DE

Classic and traditional Amaro al Radicchio Rosso from Veneto. Radicchio Rosso is a variety ripening in winter with protected designation of origin. After crushing, the leaves are soaked in up to 60% alcohol for about 3 months. After pressing and filtering, alcohol and - as usual with half bittern - some sugar are added, as well as some herbs, the mixture of which the distillery keeps strictly secret. Negronis Amaro has a fine herbal aroma with hints of orange zest after a few weeks of ripening.

Bertani's Ripasso is a true classic. The grapes come from the hills around Valpantena and from the direct Valpolicella Classico area. The original Ripasso wine would have been an overloaded Valpolicella rather than a mini Amarone, and this example is true to this type and emphasises the fresh and light style of Valpantena, a long, steeply sloping valley with a particularly cool microclimate. Bertani uses the traditional method of production: The young, already fermented Valpolicella wine is blended with the skins that have dried naturally in the meantime, giving it a richer and more concentrated flavour. It then undergoes a second so-called "ripasso" fermentation, which is triggered by the yeasts still present in the skins.

Some wines are historical records. The 26° Primo is both: a wine and a historical record in one. The name commemorates the 26th year since the founding of Azienda Agricola Andreola: 2009, when Nazzareno Pola handed the estate over to his son Stefano and, at the same time, the appellation achieved DOCG status. A wine that serves as a baton passed between generations, between an ancient winemaking tradition and its modern aspirations. The grapes come from the estate's oldest core holding: around four hectares of steep slopes in Col San Martino, the village in the southernmost part of the hills between Vidor and Vittorio Veneto, where Andreola has had its roots since its foundation. The vineyards lie at altitudes of 300 to 500 metres, partly on limestone conglomerate soils and partly on limestone-rich marl, interspersed with centuries-old Glera vines and small proportions of indigenous varieties such as Bianchetta, Perera and Verdiso. The slopes are so steep that all work must be carried out by hand.

A long time ago, the Madean hill slid down, leaving behind deep, fertile soil in Guia. The name says it all: a farmstead with a large house and stable, built on the landslide. Since 2013, Andreola has been cultivating around six hectares here in a small valley whose slopes face in all directions. At altitudes of between 250 and 350 metres, the vines grow on old marl at the bottom and on sandstone at the top. The winery was founded in 1984 by Nazzareno Pola, who competed in cycle races for around ten years and spent another decade behind the bar before turning his passion into a business at the age of 35. The grapes are harvested by hand; the base wine rests for at least six months in steel tanks, and the second fermentation lasts 30 to 40 days. Here, "Extra Brut" means zero grams of residual sugar.

Valpolicella Superiore Case Vecie is made mainly from Corvina and Corvinone grapes. It takes its name from the vineyard of the same name in Grezzana, where the ripening of the grapes is subject to strong temperature fluctuations between day and night: a climatic peculiarity that gives the wine a special spiciness on the nose and a completely unique polyphenol profile. Bright ruby red in colour with notes of cherries, vanilla and spices. Beautiful fruit and acidity on the palate, wonderfully balanced body. Juicy and long. SUPERIORE.DE

Of the 43 classified Rive sites in the Valdobbiadene area, San Pietro di Barbozza is considered one of the most demanding. The hills of morainic origin, steep, difficult to access, with calcareous soils of loam and clay – they lie in the direct neighbourhood of Cartizze, the appellation's most famous Grand Cru. Not a bad neighbour. The demanding manual harvest is carried out exclusively from the highest, sunniest plots – deliberately selected for concentration and flavour. Only the best grapes from each vintage qualify for the limited Rive bottling. Gentle whole-cluster pressing, fermentation at a controlled temperature, second fermentation using the Charmat method – with a residual sugar content of less than 6 g/l = extra brut.

Soligo and Col San Martino share the same geological origin – the same system of steep ridges between Vidor and Vittorio Veneto, the same limestone conglomerate rocks, the same heroic steepness of 300 to 500 metres. And yet the Más de Fer is a different wine. The difference lies in the soil. The plots on Col de Fer and San Gallo – around five hectares on a single contiguous slope, exposed to the south-east – grow exclusively on pure limestone conglomerate, without the marl inclusions that give Col San Martino its aromatic intensity. The thinnest soils, roots directly in the rock, constant light stress – but the result is not less, but different: fine elegance instead of power, verticality instead of breadth, a purity of expression that Andreola deliberately responds to with the extra dry dosage. The 14 g/l residual sugar is not a concession to the mass taste – they are the exact balance that this finesse needs.

Clean and refined white wine (Riesling & Durella) from volcanic soils with aromas of ripe yellow grapefruit, melon and a hint of wet straw. Medium-bodied with a silky texture that becomes slightly phenolic towards the end. A note of bitter lemon on the finish is exciting. Lots of crisp flavour, good freshness and length. SUPERIORE.DE

San Pietro di Barbozza is no unknown name within the appellation. Anyone familiar with the hills knows that this is also where Cartizze is found. This legendary 107-hectare slope, the grand cru of the entire Valdobbiadene region, borders directly on the municipality of San Pietro di Barbozza – the same steep limestone cliffs, the same heroic hillside, the same ‘Biancone’ – that fine-grained limestone which has been breaking out of the mountain for millennia, imbuing the soils of this area with a sharp minerality. Andreola only began cultivating this plot for harvest 2024 harvest – just two hectares, facing east to west, with slopes of up to 80%. The soils become thinner with increasing altitude, until the roots reach directly into the limestone. No buffer, no storage – just rock and freshness.

In Col San Martino, almost every second family bears the name Merotto. To distinguish the family from Graziano Merotto, they were given a nickname – and this nickname now appears on the label of its oldest brut sparkling wine. Bareta: a gesture of belonging, from the dialect directly into the glass. 100% Glera, exclusively from vineyards in Col San Martino, on yellowish-bluish marl with grey sandstone, 200 to 400 metres, south to south-east exposure, double-bend training. Gentle pressing, single-varietal fermentation at controlled temperature, second fermentation 50 to 60 days in autoclaves at 12–13 °C. Residual sugar < 8 g/litre – the dry end of the brut spectrum. Graziano calls Bareta the brut representation of his stylistic conviction.

Vines have been known in Col San Martino for over two thousand years. The Merotto family does not say this as an advertising message – it is simply what characterises the history of this small village. Graziano Merotto has developed his parents' winery into one of the most stylistically independent addresses in Valdobbiadene: no compromise on location, no compromise on care, no compromise on style. Colbelo is Merotto's oldest and most famous wine – the same character, the same standards for decades. 100% Glera from vineyards at 300 metres, south-facing, yellowish-bluish marl and sandstone, Sylvoz training. Vines from 15 to 18 years old. Hand-picked at the end of September, gentle pressing, single-varietal fermentation at a controlled temperature, second fermentation for 40 days in autoclaves at 12–13 °C. Residual sugar 16 g/litre – extra dry, which is the most obvious (and classic) choice for this grape variety and terroir.

Refrontolo lies on the eastern edge of the Denominazione – quieter, warmer, and a shade cooler than the steep slopes of the core zone. The Col del Forno vineyard is a natural amphitheatre covering around four hectares at an altitude of 250 metres, nestled between woods and terraced slopes. Andreola acquired the plot in 2016 – and from the very start, the wine has been one of the most compelling in the entire Rive range. What distinguishes Refrontolo from Col San Martino is not quality, but character. The clay-marl soils, featuring karst formations dating from before the last Ice Age, reliably retain moisture – ensuring a stable water supply for the vines even in dry years. Temperatures are slightly higher than in the western part of the appellation, meaning ripening begins earlier. The result is not wines of intense floral character, but Glera with a rich, ripe fruitiness: hawthorn, wisteria, apple, peach and yellow citrus fruits – a warmer, more complex spectrum of aromas.

Rive di Rolle lies in the shelter of the Trevigian Prealps – warmer than the more open sites of the Denominazione, with higher average annual temperatures and deep, fine-grained clay-marl soils that retain moisture and ensure a consistent water balance for the vines even in dry years. The result is a Glera that matures differently than elsewhere: more opulent, more fruit-driven, with an aromatic spectrum that goes far beyond the floral notes of the limestone vineyards. The Vigna Ochera is the most perfect representative of this terroir logic in the Andreola portfolio.

Carménère was once one of the six great Bordeaux grape varieties. Following the phylloxera crisis, it was thought to have been lost – until it was rediscovered in Chile in the 1990s, where it had been marketed as Merlot for a century. And in the Colli Berici region of Veneto, it had survived quietly and unnoticed until Inama became the first winery in Italy to launch a serious project centred on it. Carménère and Merlot, from the hills south-west of Vicenza, aged for 12 months in used barriques. A red wine that is unrivalled in Europe – because no one else in the Colli Berici produces a Carménère apart from Inama. A real statement wine and excellent value for money.

Graziano Merotto has named wines after parcels of land, after decades of experience, and also after himself. This one, however, he named after his daughter. La Primavera di Barbara – barbara's spring. What at first sounds like a gesture of affection is also a precise description of the wine: bright, blooming, with a vibrancy that can only be found in the best season.

Amaro is the Italian term for a bitter herb. This is usually served as a digestif. Not only in Italy the Amaro enjoys great popularity according to Meleti's old family recipe. Enjoy this noble Italian bitter herb pure, on ice or as a long drink for example with blood orange juice. SUPERIORE.DE