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Soave (wine)
Encyclopedia
Soave is a dry white Italian wine
from the Veneto region in northeast Italy
, principally around the city of Verona
. Within the Soave region are both a Denominazione di Origine Controllata
(DOC) zone and a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation known as Soave Superiore with both zones producing being further sub-divided into a general and classico designation for the wines produced in the heartland of the Soave region around the slopping vineyards of Verona. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the DOC/G and classico boundaries were revised with much criticism from local growers. Some producers, such as Roberto Anslemi, even dropped using any DOC/G designation for their Soave wines in protest of the new laws and are instead producing Indicazione geografica tipica
(IGT) wines under the Veneto designation.
Throughout the Soave production zone Garganega
is the principal grape variety though Pinot bianco, Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio) and Chardonnay
are permitted in varying percentages. While most Soave is dry, still wine within the DOC zone a sparkling spumante style is permitted as are late harvest recioto and liquoroso styles. In 1998, the passito Recioto style was granted its own Recioto di Soave DOCG designation for grapes grown in the classico region.
. Driven by the marketing efforts of large producers like Bolla, Soave even surpassed Chianti
in the 1970s as the largest-selling Italian DOC wine in the US. By the end of the 20th century, Soave's share of US sales were eventually eclipsed by Pinot grigio and an influx of new wines from southern Italy.
The Soave DOC was created in 1968 with the boundaries revised and expanded periodically over the next few decades. In 2001, a separate Soave Superiore DOCG was created for the 2002 vintage that included revised boundaries that covering some areas of the original classico zone and excluding others for reasons that wine expert Oz Clarke
described as unclear and "Byzantine". The revised boundaries and additional DOCG requirements that dealt with vine training and other viticultural practices promoted sharp criticism from Soave growers and beginning as early as 2003 several voluntarily withdrawing themselves from the DOC/G and producing wines under IGT designations.
(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
.
When the DOC boundaries were expanding shortly after its creation, most of the new vineyards were planted away from the hilly classico zone and onto the flatter alluvial plains along the Adige
river. During this time, the prolific Trebbiano Toscano was introduced to the region where it could produce sizable yields. Today there are over 4,000 hectares planted in these fertile plains which are producing the vast majority of bulk Soave that is seen on the market.
The climate of the Soave region is influenced by the mists that flow from the Po Valley
in the autumn and came bring the viticultural hazards of mold and other grape diseases. The Garganega grape that is the primary component of Soave is a late-ripening variety with a thick skin that can withstand the mist better than some of the thinner skin varieties like Trebbiano Toscano.
The vineyard soils of this region are considerably less fertile than the alluvial soils in the plains. In the western part of the classico zone near the commune of Soave the soils contain a high percentage of limestone
which retain the warmth of the afternoon soon and helps producer fuller, more fruit-forward wines. In the eastern vineyards near Monteforte d'Alpone, the soils are made of decomposed volcanic rock
that tends to produce what wine expert Jancis Robinson
calls "steelier" wines.
production. Trebbiano Toscano is permitted in Soave but can comprise of no more than 15% of the blend. All the grapes used for the DOC wine must be harvested to a yield
no greater than 14 tonnes/hectare
with the finished wine fermented to a minimum alcohol level of at least 10.5%.
In the Soave Superiore DOCG, Garganega must also account for a minimum of 70% of the wine but Pinot bianco, Chardonnay and Trebbiano di Soave are allowed to fill up to 30% of the remaining blend with Trebbiano Toscano and other local white grape varieties (such as Friulano
, Cortese
, Riesling Italico, Vespaiolo and Serprina) permitted up to 5% collectively. Grapes are harvested to a more restricted maximum yield of 10 tonnes/ha while the finished DOCG wines must reach a minimum alcohol level of 11.5%.
While most Soave Superiore DOCG is produced from vineyards within the classico zone, the boundaries for the DOCG also extend to some of the hillside vineyards that are outside the classico the zone. These wines are labeled as Soave Colli Scaligeri Superiore DOCG—a name referencing the hills around Verona that used to belong to the noble Scaligeri family that were Lords of Verona
for many years.
Additionally, There are also new regulations for planting under the DOCG system with new vineyards needing to 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 aging of at least three months.
The grape requirements for Soave DOC Recioto and Liquoroso wines are the same as for basic Soave but the grapes are left longer on the vine to accumulate more sugars and such need to be fermented to higher levels of alcohols. Reciotos are fermented to a minimum of 14% of alcohol but still retain distinct sweetness due to the high concentrations of sugars that came from the grapes dessication on the vine. Liquoroso are left on the vine even longer and may even see extended drying time after harvest and are fermented up to a minimum alcohol level of 16%. DOCG designated Recioto di Soave must come from grapes grown in the classico region and harvested to the yields prescribed for Soave Superiore DOCG.
Soave Superiore DOCG wines can also receive a Riserva designation provided the wine is fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 12.5% and is aged a minimum of 24 months (with at least 3 of those months being in the bottle) before it is released on the market.
For most of its history, Soave was produced in a medium-bodied style that was often compared to Chardonnay, except with a distinct bitter almond
note. Some producers, such as Anslemi, even began blending in Chardonnay and aging the wine in small oak barrels. In the 1980s and 1990s, production styles shifted to producing more lighter and crisper styles that were closer to Pinot grigio than to Chardonnay. But at the turn of the 21st century, production trends were shifting towards a Soave that better reflected it own character and that of the Garganega grape.
Master of Wine
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
describes some of the Soave being produced today as light-bodied, straw-colored wine that has fresh, fruity notes.
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
from the Veneto region in northeast Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, principally around the city of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. Within the Soave region are both a Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
(DOC) zone and a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation known as Soave Superiore with both zones producing being further sub-divided into a general and classico designation for the wines produced in the heartland of the Soave region around the slopping vineyards of Verona. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the DOC/G and classico boundaries were revised with much criticism from local growers. Some producers, such as Roberto Anslemi, even dropped using any DOC/G designation for their Soave wines in protest of the new laws and are instead producing Indicazione geografica tipica
Indicazione geografica tipica
Indicazione geografica tipica is the second of four classifications of wine recognized by the government of Italy. Created to recognize the unusually high quality of the class of wines known as Super Tuscans, IGT wines are labeled with the locality of their creation, but do not meet the...
(IGT) wines under the Veneto designation.
Throughout the Soave production zone Garganega
Garganega
Garganega is a variety of white Italian wine grape widely grown in the Veneto region of North East Italy, particularly in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza. It is Italy's 6th most widely planted white grape...
is the principal grape variety though Pinot bianco, Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio) and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
are permitted in varying percentages. While most Soave is dry, still wine within the DOC zone a sparkling spumante style is permitted as are late harvest recioto and liquoroso styles. In 1998, the passito Recioto style was granted its own Recioto di Soave DOCG designation for grapes grown in the classico region.
History
Soave saw a peak of popularity in United States during the mid-20th century Italian wine boom that followed the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Driven by the marketing efforts of large producers like Bolla, Soave even surpassed Chianti
Chianti
Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ; however, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine now; most Chianti is now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles...
in the 1970s as the largest-selling Italian DOC wine in the US. By the end of the 20th century, Soave's share of US sales were eventually eclipsed by Pinot grigio and an influx of new wines from southern Italy.
The Soave DOC was created in 1968 with the boundaries revised and expanded periodically over the next few decades. In 2001, a separate Soave Superiore DOCG was created for the 2002 vintage that included revised boundaries that covering some areas of the original classico zone and excluding others for reasons that wine expert Oz Clarke
Oz Clarke
Robert "Oz" Clarke is a British wine writer, television presenter and broadcaster.-Biography:Clarke’s parents were a chest physician and a nursing sister. He was brought up near Canterbury with a brother and a sister. Clarke became a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral and subsequently won a choral...
described as unclear and "Byzantine". The revised boundaries and additional DOCG requirements that dealt with vine training and other viticultural practices promoted sharp criticism from Soave growers and beginning as early as 2003 several voluntarily withdrawing themselves from the DOC/G and producing wines under IGT designations.
Wine region
The Soave production zone is situated in the eastern part of the hills in the province of VeronaProvince of Verona
The Province of Verona is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Verona.-Overview:The province has an area of 3,109 km², and a total population of 912,981...
(north of the Serenissima
Serenissima
Serenissima may refer to:Certain countries:*La Serenissima, a name for the Republic of Venice, from the title Serenissimo literally meaning 'the most/very serene'....
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
Soave
Soave is a small comune of the Veneto region in the Province of Verona, Italy with a population of roughly 6,800 people.-Geography:Soave is located approximately 23 kilometers east of Verona and is reachable by use of the A4 motorway exit Soave-San Bonifacio.-History:Soave was a Roman center on the...
, Monteforte d'Alpone
Monteforte d'Alpone
Monteforte d'Alpone is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 80 km west of Venice and about 25 km east of Verona....
, San Martino Buon Albergo
San Martino Buon Albergo
San Martino Buon Albergo is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 100 km west of Venice and about 9 km east of Verona....
, Lavagno
Lavagno
Lavagno is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 12 km east of Verona...
, Mezzane, Caldiero
Caldiero
Caldiero is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 15 km east of Verona....
, Colognola
Colognola
Colognola,located at is a quarter of the city of Bergamo.-Geography:The quarter of Colognola is in the south part of the side close to the motorway Milan Venice also named A4.-History:...
, Illasi
Illasi
Illasi is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 15 km east of Verona...
, Cazzano, Roncà
Roncà
Roncà is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 80 km west of Venice and about 25 km east of Verona. As of 1 June 2007, it had a population of 3,585 and an area of 18.22 km²....
, Montecchia and San Giovanni Ilarione
San Giovanni Ilarione
San Giovanni Ilarione is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 20 km northeast of Verona...
.
When the DOC boundaries were expanding shortly after its creation, most of the new vineyards were planted away from the hilly classico zone and onto the flatter alluvial plains along the Adige
Adige
The Adige is a river with its source in the Alpine province of South Tyrol near the Italian border with Austria and Switzerland. At in length, it is the second longest river in Italy, after the River Po with ....
river. During this time, the prolific Trebbiano Toscano was introduced to the region where it could produce sizable yields. Today there are over 4,000 hectares planted in these fertile plains which are producing the vast majority of bulk Soave that is seen on the market.
The climate of the Soave region is influenced by the mists that flow from the Po Valley
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
in the autumn and came bring the viticultural hazards of mold and other grape diseases. The Garganega grape that is the primary component of Soave is a late-ripening variety with a thick skin that can withstand the mist better than some of the thinner skin varieties like Trebbiano Toscano.
Classico
The classico zone was first delineated by Veneto authorities in 1927 and originally encompassed 2720 acres (1,100.7 ha) of hillside vineyards within the Soave zone. Today, the use of the specification "Classico" with the designation "Soave" is reserved for the product made from grapes harvested from the hillside vineyards around the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone in the original and oldest classic "zone" of Verona.The vineyard soils of this region are considerably less fertile than the alluvial soils in the plains. In the western part of the classico zone near the commune of Soave the soils contain a high percentage of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
which retain the warmth of the afternoon soon and helps producer fuller, more fruit-forward wines. In the eastern vineyards near Monteforte d'Alpone, the soils are made of decomposed volcanic rock
Volcanic rock
Volcanic rock is a rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. In other words, it is an igneous rock of volcanic origin...
that tends to produce what wine expert Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
calls "steelier" wines.
DOC/G requirements
Only white wine is produced in the Soave region with a minimum of 70% of the wine coming from the Garganega grape. For Soave DOC wine, up to 30% of the blend can come from Trebbiano di Soave which is also known as Verdicchio and Nestrano. This grape is different from the Trebbiano Toscano variety that is grown in the Tuscany region of Italy and is also known as the Ugni blanc grape used in CognacCognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
production. Trebbiano Toscano is permitted in Soave but can comprise of no more than 15% of the blend. All the grapes used for the DOC wine must be harvested to a yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
no greater than 14 tonnes/hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
with the finished wine fermented to a minimum alcohol level of at least 10.5%.
In the Soave Superiore DOCG, Garganega must also account for a minimum of 70% of the wine but Pinot bianco, Chardonnay and Trebbiano di Soave are allowed to fill up to 30% of the remaining blend with Trebbiano Toscano and other local white grape varieties (such as Friulano
Friulano
Friulano is the name of a firm cow's milk cheese made in Canada named after the Friuli region of Italy. It is rindless and interior-ripened with a yellow surface and interior. It is salty and tastes slightly of hazelnut...
, Cortese
Cortese
Cortese is a white Italian wine grape variety predominantly grown in the southeastern regions of Piedmont in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. It is the primary grape of the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato and Colli Tortonesi as well as the...
, Riesling Italico, Vespaiolo and Serprina) permitted up to 5% collectively. Grapes are harvested to a more restricted maximum yield of 10 tonnes/ha while the finished DOCG wines must reach a minimum alcohol level of 11.5%.
While most Soave Superiore DOCG is produced from vineyards within the classico zone, the boundaries for the DOCG also extend to some of the hillside vineyards that are outside the classico the zone. These wines are labeled as Soave Colli Scaligeri Superiore DOCG—a name referencing the hills around Verona that used to belong to the noble Scaligeri family that were Lords of Verona
Lords of Verona
The Lords of Verona ruled the city from 1260 until 19 October 1387 and for ten days in 1404. The lordship was created when Mastino I della Scala was raised to the rank of capitano del popolo from that of podestà...
for many years.
Additionally, There are also new regulations for planting under the DOCG system with new vineyards needing to be trained using Espalier
Espalier
Espalier is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth by pruning and tying branches so that they grow into a flat plane, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this...
systems with at least 4000 vine per hectare. For those vines planted before 2002, the Espalier system, Pergola
Pergola
A pergola, arbor or arbour is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained...
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 aging of at least three months.
Other wines
Soave Superiore DOCG wines can also receive a Riserva designation provided the wine is fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 12.5% and is aged a minimum of 24 months (with at least 3 of those months being in the bottle) before it is released on the market.
Production and style
By the mid-1990s Soave was producing around 6 million cases annually with more than 80% of that being produced by the region's local co-operative and sold in bulk to importers who release the wine under private labels. A sizable amount of this wine comes from the flat pianura land outside the hilly classico region in the heart of the Soave zone. Most of the more critically acclaim Soave come from the hillside vineyards in the Classico zone though critics have argued that this designation does not mean as much since the DOC/G changes of the early 21st century.For most of its history, Soave was produced in a medium-bodied style that was often compared to Chardonnay, except with a distinct bitter almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
note. Some producers, such as Anslemi, even began blending in Chardonnay and aging the wine in small oak barrels. In the 1980s and 1990s, production styles shifted to producing more lighter and crisper styles that were closer to Pinot grigio than to Chardonnay. But at the turn of the 21st century, production trends were shifting towards a Soave that better reflected it own character and that of the Garganega grape.
Master of Wine
Master of Wine
Master of Wine is a qualification issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom...
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Mary Ewing-Mulligan is an American author, wine educator and Master of Wine, the first American woman to achieve this accreditation. She has been the director of the school International Wine Center since 1984, and is executive director of the U.S. programs for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust...
describes some of the Soave being produced today as light-bodied, straw-colored wine that has fresh, fruity notes.