Medium-term ageing in Veneto

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

A Veronese IGT using partial ripasso over Amarone pomace adding richness to the Corvina-Rondinella blend, while a small Sangiovese component adds acidity. Approachable but complex mid-tier red from Allegrini.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Allegrini's estate Classico Superiore reflects the house's high Corvinone proportion (45%) adding floral lift and softer tannin alongside Corvina's cherry-herb character; a bright, food-friendly everyday Valpolicella.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Bertani's Ripasso benefits from the estate's traditional Corvina-Rondinella blend and refermentation over dried Amarone skins, producing a mid-weight red with the freshness typical of the traditional house style.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Easygoing · Refreshing

Ca' La Bionda's Classico Superiore reflects the upper Marano valley's mineral character in a lighter-bodied, tart cherry register; crisp, food-friendly and genuinely typical of the traditional Valpolicella style.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

La Selva is the cooperative's premium single-vineyard selection from older vines in the Selva parcel. Partial oak fermentation adds texture and complexity beyond the standard cooperative Custoza, demonstrating the appellation's premium potential.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Campagnola's Valpolicella Classico from the estate's hillside vineyards in the historic Classico zone. A traditional expression of the DOC: light in colour and body but with the characteristic Corvina sour cherry and almond character of the Classico hills.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Amedeo is Cavalchina's premium selection, using partial oak fermentation to add complexity and longevity to the Bianco di Custoza DOC framework. More structured and richer than the standard Custoza, with the oak well integrated.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Rustic

The Le Fontane (the springs) red from Corte Gardoni is a Garda DOC Cabernet-based blend aged in oak. The Garda DOC permits Bordeaux varieties and the morainic soils of Valeggio sul Mincio give the Cabernet a mineral freshness that distinguishes it from warmer Veneto reds.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Funky · Rustic

Soraigo shows what biodynamic Valpolicella Classico tastes like with minimal intervention: earthy, mineral, tart cherry with clay soil expressiveness and a savoury, food-friendly character that makes it a superb natural-wine discovery.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Le Bine is the top single-vineyard Soave Superiore DOCG from Fasoli Gino's organically farmed estate. 'Bine' are the traditional wooden stakes used for old Garganega training; this label celebrates the estate's old-vine heritage from individual pergola-trained parcels on volcanic basalt.

Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Mael is the flagship Soave Classico from Fasoli Gino, one of the Soave zone's pioneering certified organic estates. ICEA-certified organic viticulture at Colognola ai Colli on volcanic basalt soils gives this Garganega a particularly expressive mineral and orchard-fruit profile.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Col Foscarin is Gini's barrel-aged prestige Soave from the Col Foscarin parcel in Monteforte: partial barrel-fermentation adds hazelnut cream and golden apple richness while the Garganega's mineral core remains crisp and long-finishing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

La Frosca from the Gini family's oldest Garganega vines on the highest basalt-volcanic slopes of Monteforte d'Alpone; the chalky mineral texture, fennel herb and white-peach fruit represent the Classico zone's basalt terroir in its purest expression.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Gorgo's Garda DOC Merlot provides a red wine counterpart to the estate's primary Bianco di Custoza focus. Lake Garda's moderating effect on the climate produces a well-rounded Merlot with soft tannins and ripe fruit.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Pojega is the top expression from Guerrieri Rizzardi's Bardolino range, bottled under the Bardolino Superiore DOCG. Oak ageing adds structure and complexity to the base Classico profile. Named for the Pojega wine museum located on the estate.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Inama's Oratorio di San Lorenzo is the estate's second single-vineyard Soave Superiore from the adjacent San Lorenzo parcel, showing the same volcanic basalt minerality as Foscarino but with a slightly more herbal, fennel-accented character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Vigneti di Foscarino is Inama's pure basalt-volcanic Soave Classico from the historic Foscarino hill, the most volcanically active terroir in the Classico zone; 100% Garganega barrel-fermented for a mineral, almond-hazelnut complexity of striking length.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

The Piave plain Merlot DOC from Italo Cescon is a classic Trevisan everyday red. Merlot on the alluvial Piave soils produces a plum-forward, medium-bodied wine with soft tannins suited to simple food pairings.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Bold

Raboso Piave is one of Italy's most ancient and austere red grapes, native to the Piave river plains in Treviso province. Italo Cescon has championed its rehabilitation since the 1960s. High tannin and acid give the wine its characteristic austerity, but serious age-worthiness.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Le Salette's Classico Superiore benefits from the high-altitude Fumane terroir that gives freshness and floral lift to the Corvina base; an elegant, food-friendly expression of the appellation.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Begali's Valpolicella Classico Superiore from Ca' Bianca old vines shows the same mineral-iron freshness as the estate's Amarone in a lighter register; a food-friendly expression of traditional San Pietro in Cariano Corvina.

Sweet · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic

Dindarello is Maculan's late-harvest Moscato, a lighter and more delicate counterpart to the intense Torcolato and Acininobili. From small Moscato (Muscat blanc a petits grains) grapes left on the vine to develop extra ripeness, it captures the variety's natural floral sweetness without botrytis intervention.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Campofiorin pioneered the ripasso technique in 1964, passing fresh Valpolicella wine over dried Amarone grape skins to extract colour, richness and complexity. A seminal wine that created an entire style category.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Rustic

Masi's Toar is a 30% Oseleta-dominant Veronese IGT that deliberately showcases the rarely-used indigenous variety; partial drying of the Oseleta component adds concentration and the grape's characteristic dark spice and iron mineral character.

Sweet · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant

Miele (honey) is Monte Tondo's Recioto di Soave DOCG, a rare sweet wine from appassimento-dried Garganega grapes. Recioto di Soave predates Soave's dry style and is considered the original historic wine of the Soave hills. Monte Tondo's version captures honey, dried apricot and candied citrus balanced by the grape's naturally high acidity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Monte Tondo's signature Soave Superiore DOCG from the Casette Foscarin single-vineyard site on high-elevation basalt terraces east of the Classico zone. Extended lees contact adds texture while preserving the natural mineral character of volcanic Garganega.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

The Nicolis estate Classico Superiore offers an honest, traditional Valpolicella from the Villa Girardi hillside; cherry-tobacco character with the freshness typical of a classic-zone Corvina aged gently in large casks.

Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Le Creete (meaning 'the clay/chalk') is named for the specific Cretaceous clay-limestone soils of the parcel. An intermediate tier between the standard Lugana and the full Riserva Molceo; extended stainless steel lees contact adds texture without the oak of the Riserva.

Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Molceo is among the most complex white wines produced in the Lugana DOC. Extended lees contact in both oak and steel develops remarkable textural richness and autolytic complexity in the Turbiana grape. One of the first producers to prove that Lugana could produce serious age-worthy whites.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Calvarino is Pieropan's basalt and limestone single-vineyard Soave, planted in 1924 to Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave; the volcanic basalt soils give a crackling acidity and mineral depth far beyond the appellation average, with exceptional ageing potential.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

La Rocca is 100% Garganega from the volcanic tufa hillside above Soave castle, barrel-fermented and aged; arguably Italy's most cellar-worthy white wine, developing hazelnut-honey complexity over 10-plus years while retaining the grape's almond-mineral core.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Pra's Monte Grande from the basalt-rich Monteforte hillside is a benchmark organic Soave Classico: Graziano Pra's organic viticulture and extended lees contact produce a pure, mineral, textural wine of genuine complexity and age-worthiness for the price.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Otto is Pra's barrel-aged prestige Soave, named for the year the oldest vines were planted (1908); extensive lees contact in barriques produces a Garganega of remarkable richness, hazelnut-cream complexity and long ageing potential.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Capitel Croce is Anselmi's barrel-aged 100% Garganega, named for a wayside cross on the Capitel Croce hill; oak-fermented with extended lees contact to produce a richer, more complex expression of the varietal with hazelnuts, golden apple and creamy texture.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Santa Sofia's Classico Superiore is a reliable, food-friendly, accessible Valpolicella from the historic Pedemonte estate with cherry-tobacco character and good acidity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Phigaia is the accessible second wine from Serafini and Vidotto, allowing the estate to express the Montello terroir at a lower price point. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend is lighter, fresher and more immediately enjoyable than Il Rosso dell'Abazia.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Speri's La Roverina Classico Superiore with partial ripasso technique; fresh cherry and tobacco character from the traditional large-cask approach, with added concentration from the ripasso step and the estate's characteristic acidity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Suavia's Monte Carbonare from the village of Soave itself: 100% Garganega from a steep volcanic tufa hillside with century-old vines; lees-aged in large casks producing exceptional mineral depth, citrus-almond precision and great cellaring potential.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

The Capitel dei Nicalo is Tedeschi's Valpolicella Superiore partially ripassoed over dried skins, offering accessible Corvina cherry fruit with tobacco structure and good food-pairing versatility.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Tenuta Sant'Antonio's Ripasso shows the Mezzane valley's characteristic earthiness alongside cherry-tobacco fruit; the small Oseleta addition adds a distinguishing spice note that sets it apart from Classico-zone examples.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Tommasi's Ripasso offers the hallmark refermentation complexity over dried Amarone skins in a well-structured, cherry-tobacco dominated medium red that is one of the zone's best-value offerings in the Ripasso DOC.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Funky

Valentina Cubi's organic Valpolicella Superiore shows the freshness of high-altitude Fumane fruit with earthy mineral character from organic farming; a genuinely characterful everyday Valpolicella with better-than-average expressiveness.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Rustic

A Cabernet-focused red from the volcanic slopes of the Euganean Hills. The Colli Euganei DOC allows Cabernet varieties and Vignalta's version shows the distinctive mineral thread of volcanic soil combined with the classic Cabernet Franc herbal character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Refreshing

Viviani's Classico Superiore from the high Mazzano ridge shows the altitude freshness that characterises all the estate's wines: iron mineral, tart cherry and mountain herbs in a lean, food-loving medium-red.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Zenato's Ripassa shows the Oseleta grape's peppery-spice influence even at the mid-tier level: good concentration from refermentation over dried skins with a distinguishing warmth from the native Oseleta component.