| One of the twenty regions that make up the | | | | winery names, and even the names of wines are |
| country of Italy, Veneto is also one of the most | | | | also regulated under the DOC. |
| renowned winemaking regions in both Italy and | | | | Areas Of Production In Veneto |
| around the world. The Veneto region includes | | | | There are three general areas of premium wine |
| some of the most beautiful and historic cities in | | | | production in the Veneto region: the western |
| the country. This article looks at the Veneto wine | | | | province of Verona in the hills between Lake |
| region and shows why many wine of the month | | | | Garda and the town of Soave, the central hills in |
| club members find this area and the wines | | | | the provinces of Vincenza, Padova, and Treviso, |
| produced there so intriguing. | | | | and the eastern plains of the Piave and |
| The Cities Of The Veneto Region | | | | Tagliamento river basins along the Adriatic coast |
| Venezia, a city built into the sea, is like no other, | | | | northeast of Venezia. Wine clubs usually feature |
| haunted by the princes and poets of its noble | | | | wines from all of these areas. |
| past and by centuries of tourists. The cities of | | | | Vernoa is the leader in classified DOC wines and |
| Padova, Vicenza, and Verona were originally | | | | the site of Vinitaly, the largest wine trade fair in |
| frontier posts on the Roman trade route between | | | | the world. Major parts of the DOC wines in the |
| Venezia and Genova. These cities eventually grew | | | | region are Soave, Bardolino, and Valpolicella, a |
| into Renaissance splendor and are wonders in their | | | | blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. When |
| own right. The rich history of this area adds to | | | | young, Valpolicella is a full, fruity red, but when the |
| the interest of the wines produced here for wine | | | | grapes are partly dried, they are made into |
| clubs. | | | | Amarone, one of Italy's most noble wines adored |
| In the 16th century, the region's great architect | | | | by wine of the month club members. Bardolino is |
| Andrea Palladio worked throughout the area. His | | | | made from the same grapes as Valpolicella but is |
| buildings are everywhere, in the cities and in the | | | | a lighter version. Similar to Soave, Bianco di |
| countryside. Nature exhibits it own marvels in the | | | | Custoza is another DOC white as is Lessini Durello, |
| region, including the spectacular Dolomite | | | | a steely dry wine, usually sparkling. |
| mountains in the north, the rolling Euganean hills in | | | | The central hills produce white wines similar to |
| the south, vast Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, on | | | | Soave as well as Tocai, the Pinots, Merlot, and |
| the eastern border, and to the west, the Adriatic | | | | Cabernet, eternal wine of the month club |
| with its beaches and ports. | | | | favorites. Prosecco, a dry to lightly sweet white |
| DOC | | | | wine, is produced in the area, as is the renowned |
| Today, Veneto is a thriving agricultural center, a | | | | Venegazzu, both usually sparkling. |
| lush land of vines, ranking third after Apulia and | | | | Merlot and Cabernet Franc have dominated the |
| Sicily in wine volume but the first with classified | | | | eastern plains for decades, but the local red wine |
| DOC wines. Established in 1963 as a law in Italy | | | | Raboso and white wine Verduzzo still have |
| applying only to Italian bottled wines, DOC stands | | | | admirers amongst wine clubs. Pinot Grigio, |
| for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. This law | | | | Sauvignon, and Chardonnay wines are also gaining |
| determines the areas where wineries can produce | | | | ground. |
| certain wines, including factors such as the grapes | | | | Rich in beauty, history, fertile land, and delicious |
| or the blend of grapes, the soil, the vineyard | | | | wines, the winemaking region of Veneto, Italy is |
| arrangements, cultivation methods, vineyard | | | | sure to remain an eternal favorite of wine clubs, |
| yields, vinification, length of maturation, and the | | | | wine connoisseurs, and the people who live there |
| blending of different vintages. Labels, bottles, | | | | alike. |