Veneto
Amarone, Bardolino, Chiaretto, Custoza, Lugana, Marzemino, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, Recioto, Valpolicella, and other renowned labels found on Italian wine bottles hail from Veneto.This wine-growing region in northeastern Italy spans nearly 80,000 hectares and shares borders with Friuli-Venezia Giulia, South Tyrol, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. Its landscape and climate are shaped by the 150-kilometer-long Adriatic coast.
Viticulture in Veneto dates back to ancient times, with the Etruscans and Romans cultivating grapes. The Venetian rule in the 15th century saw viticulture flourish, earning the region the nickname "Serenissima." The region's vineyards boast diverse soils, from stony and calcareous in the north to sandy, clay, and alluvial in the south. Veneto is the third-largest Italian wine-growing region, with main production areas including the Adriatic coast, the Po, Verona, Vicenza, Venice, and Lake Garda.
Quality has taken precedence over quantity in recent years, with DOC/DOCG wines accounting for over half of production. Verona, considered Italy's wine center, hosts the renowned Vinitaly wine fair annually.
Veneto's wines have gained popularity due to the pizzeria boom and tourism along the Adriatic Sea and Lake Garda. Notably, Prosecco underwent significant quality improvements, with stricter regulations leading to the delineation of DOC and DOCG areas.
Amarone della Valpolicella stands out as an export hit, known for its concentrated, elegant red wines produced through grape drying. The Valpolicella wine region extends from Verona to Lake Garda, with Amarone's heart lying in the native Corvina and Corvinone varieties.
In recent years, Colli Berici near Vicenza and Colli Euganei have emerged as regions of interest for lovers of indigenous grape varieties. Despite the plethora of DOCG and DOC areas, efforts to improve quality continue, resulting in better wines across Veneto.
FACTS:
Capital: Venice
Vineyard: approx. 77,500 hectares
Total production/year: approx. 1 billion litres
Share of viticulture in Italy: approx. 20%.
