Veneto: Stunning Landscapes, Stunning Wines

A region of breathtaking beauty, Veneto is also home to an extraordinary range of wines made in all styles. 

In many ways, Veneto is a microcosm of what makes Italy so compelling. Most visitors see Venice and Verona, and that’s about it. While those cities are beautiful, they represent just one thread in the rich cultural fabric that adorns this region in northern Italy. The lake district and its resorts meld into the vineyards of Soave and Valpolicella, which gives birth to Amarone. Further east, Vicenza, Treviso and the surrounding towns are the cradle of Palladian architecture. Padova is the home of one of Europe’s oldest universities. Bassano del Grappa, Asolo and Marostica – none particularly notable for wine – are stunning hillside towns well worth a visit on their own.

Pergola-trained vineyards are typical of the Valpolicella zone

Much the same applies to the wines of Veneto. Soave is a versatile white that seems to be going through a renaissance, which is great to see. Readers will find everything from Soaves that emphasize minerality to those made from late-harvested fruit. The very best Soaves can age effortlessly for years. The Valpolicella zone produces a wide range of wines, from simple, quaffable daily drinkers to epic Amarones that take their place among the world’s greatest reds. Recioto, the sweet wine made from dried grapes, is found in a number of appellations, including Soave, Valpolicella and Breganze. International grapes flourish in many spots, including the heart of Valpolicella, where Giuseppe Quintarelli’s Alzero shows the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made with dried grapes, Amarone-style. And then there are the local, fresh whites served by the carafe in local trattorias that are never exported but seem like the world’s greatest wines when tasted on the spot, maybe with a plate of white asparagus in April.