8 editor-picked estates growing Merlot in Veneto.
Where to taste Merlot in Veneto: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
The cellar
7 bottles with at least 15% Merlot in the blend.
4.7
Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso
Maculan
4.6
Serafini and Vidotto Il Rosso dell'Abazia
Serafini and Vidotto
4.4
Vignalta Gemola Colli Euganei
Vignalta
4.2
Corte Gardoni Le Fontane Garda Cabernet DOC
Corte Gardoni
4.1
Serafini and Vidotto Phigaia
Serafini and Vidotto
4.0
Gorgo Merlot Garda DOC
Gorgo
3.9
Italo Cescon Merlot Piave DOC
Italo Cescon
Breganze DOC estate in Vicenza, founded by the Maculan family in 1947. Fausto Maculan revived the Torcolato dessert wine from dried Vespaiola in 1974; the Bordeaux-blend Fratta debuted in 1977. Both are flagship bottlings for the zone.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Breganze cellar; Torcolato dessert wine and Fratta flagship poured.
Signature wines: Maculan Torcolato Breganze, Maculan Fratta Breganze Rosso, Maculan Acininobili Breganze
Francesco Serafini and Antonello Vidotto established this Treviso estate in 1986, pioneering quality Bordeaux-variety production on the Montello hills. Il Rosso dell'Abazia is their flagship DOCG red.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at Nervesa della Battaglia by appointment.
Signature wines: Serafini and Vidotto Il Rosso dell'Abazia, Serafini and Vidotto Phigaia
Situated in the medieval village of Arqua Petrarca on the Euganean Hills, Vignalta is a benchmark producer for the Colli Euganei Fior d'Arancio DOCG passito from Moscato Giallo and the red Gemola IGT.
Tasting: Visits and tasting at Arqua Petrarca; the Fior d'Arancio DOCG and Colli Euganei reds are the focus.
Signature wines: Vignalta Colli Euganei Fior d'Arancio Passito, Vignalta Gemola Colli Euganei
A leading producer of Piave DOC wines including the rare Raboso Piave, the zone's autochthonous red grape. The Cescon family has championed Raboso's rehabilitation in the Venetian plains since the 1960s.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at Ormelle by appointment; Raboso Piave and varietal range poured.
Signature wines: Italo Cescon Raboso Piave DOC, Italo Cescon Il Tralcetto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
A family estate on the glacial morainic amphitheater south of Lake Garda at Custoza. The estate specialises in crisp, food-friendly Bianco di Custoza DOC from Garganega, Trebbiano and Cortese.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the morainic estate in Custoza by appointment.
Signature wines: Gorgo Bianco di Custoza DOC, Gorgo Merlot Garda DOC
The Piccoli family estate at Valeggio sul Mincio on the morainic rim of Lake Garda produces a fresh, saline Bianco di Custoza DOC alongside an interesting Garda Cabernet from south-shore hillside vineyards.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the Valeggio sul Mincio estate; bookable online.
Signature wines: Corte Gardoni Bianco di Custoza DOC, Corte Gardoni Le Fontane Garda Cabernet DOC
Celestino Gaspari's Zyme winery is carved into a 15th-century sandstone quarry. The tasting room inside the quarry maintains constant temperature and presents 6+ Zyme wines including single-vineyard Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone, and blended IGT expressions. Highly rated; book one week ahead.
Tip: The Kairos blend (15 grape varieties) is Gaspari's philosophical statement about Valpolicella terroir - the most unusual pour in the tasting.
Massimago's estate tasting in the Mezzane Valley combines a walk through certified organic vineyards with a visit to the historic Amarone ageing cellar.
Tip: The organic certification and Mezzane sub-zone origin are the differentiators here - ask about the estate's transition to biodynamics.
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