Monte Tondo Soave Classico DOC “Montetondo” 2023

Garganega dry wines is marked out by intense aromas of almond, peach blossoms, pear and overripe yellow apples. This grape is also famous for the ability to make dessert wines which is made using dried, late harvested grapes.

Soave is arguably the most famous white wine DOC in Italy. Granted in 1968, the DOC title covers wines made from Garganega grapes grown in hillside vineyards east of Verona, in the Veneto wine region of northeastern Italy. A dry, crisp, fruity white wine, Soave's naturally refreshing appeal led it to phenomenal popularity in the second half of the 20th Century.   Ask any wine drinker to name a well-known Italian white wine, and their answer will most likely be either Pinot Grigio or Soave. Names such as Gavi, Orvieto and Frascati might also figure on the list, but the sheer volume of Soave which has made its way out of Veneto in recent decades has drowned out the competition. The fact that Pinot Grigio figures alongside Soave as one of the most famous Italian wines is a sign of the times.    As with Chianti the quantity of Soave wine produced every vintage is much more consistent than its quality. The temptation to drive for higher yields has led many Soave producers to favor volume over value, to the eventual detriment of the Soave brand. The consequences of this have taken many years to filter through, but the negative effects are now being felt.   The official catchment area for Soave wine production covers the communes of Monteforte d'Alpone, San Martino Buon Albergo, Mezzane di Sotto, Ronca, Montecchia di Crosara, San Giovanni Ilarione, San Bonifacio, Cazzano di Tramigna, Colognola ai Colli, Caldiero, Illasi, Lavagno and Soave itself. The production area was significantly expanded when the Soave DOC laws were drawn up, and it now covers about three times its former area. Wines from the original, "classic" Soave vineyard area are distinguished by the title Soave Classico. Wines labeled as Soave Colli Scaligeri are from hillside vineyards whose terroir is considered superior but which lie outside the official Soave Classico zone.   In order to address the falling quality of Soave wines, and to provide distinction between the quality levels, the Soave Superiore DOCG was drafted in October 2001 and put into effect as of the 2002 vintage. See Soave Superiore for details.

Veneto is the home of the first Italian winemaking school, marking it the beginning point of wine tourism in Italy. This is one of the largest wine regions that allows to use more than 80 varieties of grapes. The most popular red varieties are Corvina and Rodinella - the first one gives wine a rich flavor and silky tannins, as well as charming aromas of cherries and herbs, while the second one provides wine with a beautiful ruby color with even more saturated cherry flavor. The leaders amongst white wines is Garganega that gives wine almond and honey flavors, and the popular, light and bubbly Glera.