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Importers of Fine Wines Since 1919 | Resources for the Trade |
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The Veneto
Bianco di Custoza and Lugana are made from Trebbiano, a grape that is also known as Ugni Blanc. Prosecco is a tantalizing still or sparkling wine made from a grape by the same name. Soave is a blend of several varieties, the most important of which is Garganega. Within the red arena, Valpolicella and Bardolino are made from the same three grapes, Corvina, Molinara, and Rondinella, but the grapes are grown in different areas or zones of production and the composition of the blend is slightly different. The wines are always predominately Corvina, and truth be told, more than the three principal grapes can go into the blends and often do. Bardolino, the growing area, can also produce a rosé whereas Valpolicella’s zone of production can craft Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella. Amarone is made by drying the grapes after harvest (apassimento-style) then fermenting the concentrated must to dryness. This results in an incredibly rich wine with significant alcohol (over 14 percent). The same process is followed for Recioto, but this time, fermentation is arrested by chilling the juice and filtering out the yeast so that some residual sugar remains in the wine. Some producers achieve a rich composite of flavors and textures by pouring Valpolicella through the crushed cake of Amarone grapes. This technique is known as “ripasso” meaning “to pass over again”. The resulting wine is richer than a regular Valpolicella, with more concentrated fruit and depth of flavor, but does not achieve the intensity of the Amarone itself. Wines made in this fashion receive IGT status. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
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Prosecco can be either dry or sweet.
“Classico” on a bottle of Italian wine refers to the historic or original zone of production for the region. “Superiore” on a bottle of Italian wine does not mean “superior” in quality, but rather denotes a higher or superior attribute such as longer aging time or a higher alcohol level. Sometimes it indicates that the wine is produced from vineyards with more restricted yields. Soave Superiore and Bardolino Superiore are DOCGs.
The name Recioto is taken from “recie” meaning “ears.” Traditionally, pickers would only select the perfectly ripe lobes of grapes at the top of each cluster, similar to “ears” for use in making Recioto. Recioto di Soave is a DOCG. It is made the same way as Recioto della Valpolicella—but with different grapes, of course! Rosé is called Chiaretto in the Veneto. The other grapes permitted in the Soave blend are Pinot Bianco, Trebbiano, and Chardonnay. 
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The Veneto is Italy’s third largest wine producer. Its most celebrated wines are Prosecco, Soave, Bianco di Custoza, Pinot Grigio and Lugana (whites) and Bardolino, Valpolicella, and Amarone (all red). 
The Veneto has given us tiramisu (a dessert comprised of layers of sweetened mascarpone cheese and espresso/grappa soaked ladyfingers) and the Bellini (a cocktail of Prosecco and white peach juice).
