Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

240  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

What to Drink in Venice and the Veneto

Italy has been making wine for over 3,000 years, and production
in the Veneto reflects this, with the largest output in Italy of
superior wines. The area produces an abundance of different
wines, which include not only well-known names such as Soave,
Valpolicella and Bardolino, but many others which are also
excellent value for money. Although Italians tend to drink lighter
wines with their food, the area is also noted for some excellent
strong wines. Italy’s famous digestivo, grappa, originated in this
corner of the country, and meals are often preceded by an
aperitivo or a glass of sparkling local Prosecco. Grapes drying in Valpolicella
Red Wine
Red wines in the Veneto are produced mainly near
Bardolino and Valpolicella between Verona and Lake
Garda (see pp214–15). Made predominantly from the
Corvina grape, they are usually light and fruity, but quality
can vary so, it is worth looking for reliable names.
Valpolicella comes in several forms. In addition
to the normal easy-drinking wine, it is available as Bardolino wine is
a ripasso, boosted in colour and strength by light, fruity and
macerating the skins of the grapes before pressing. garnet-red in colour.
Recioto della Val policella is very different, a rich,
sweet wine made from selected air-dried grapes.
Some Reciotos undergo further fermentation to
remove the sweetness, producing the strong, dry
Recioto Amarone. These are some of the strongest
naturally alcoholic wines in the world and are
delicious but expensive.
Excellent red wines are also made by producers
such as Venegazzù and Maculan from the Amarone is full-
Red Venegazzù Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. bodied, rich, full of fruit
Masi’s ripasso and very alcoholic.
Reading Wine Labels
Wine Type Recommended Producers
Italian wines are classified by
four quality levels. Starting at White Wine
the top, DOCG status Soave Anselmi, Bertani, Col Baraca (Masi), Boscaini,
(Denominazione di Origine CS di Soave, Masi, Pieropan, Scamperle,
Controllata e Garantita) has been Tedeschi, Zenato, Zonin
awarded to a small number of
Italian growing areas, none of Bianco di Custoza Cavalchina, Le Tende, Le Vigne di San Pietro,
which are in the Veneto. Most Pezzini, San Leone, Tedeschi, Zenato
quality wines – more than 250 Breganze di Breganze Maculan
in the whole of Italy – are in the
DOC category (as above but Gambellara CS di Gambellara, Zonin
without the “guarantee”) and
these can be relied on as good- Red Wine
value, quality wines. The IGT Bardolino Alighieri, Bertani, Bolla, Boscaini, Guerrieri-
(Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Rizzardi, Masi, Tedeschi
category corresponds to the
popular French Vin de Pays. Valpolicella Alighieri, Allegrini, Bertani, Bolla, Boscaini,
The final classification is vino Guerrieri-Rizzardi, Masi, Tedeschi, Zenato
da tavola, or table wine, but
due to the inflexible Italian wine Ripasso-Valpolicella Serègo Alighieri, Jago (Bolla), Le Cane
(non-DC)
(Boscaini), Le Sassine (Le Ragose), Campo
laws many superb wines appear Fiorin (Masi), Capitel San Rocco (Tedeschi)
in this category.
No vintage recommendations Recioto and Recioto Serègo Alighieri, Allegrini, Masi, Quintarelli,
are given in the chart because Amarone della La Ragose, Tedeschi
almost all Veneto wines are Valpolicella
made for young drinking.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
What to Drink template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm