Appuntamento Soave: Verona’s White Wine Between Present and Future

Appuntamento Soave, the elegance is white. This is the title of the event organized on Monday, September 8, at the Circolo Ufficiali in Verona by the Consorzio di Tutela del Soave, in collaboration with Strada del Vino Soave, dedicated to the best interpretations of the iconic Italian white. For the second consecutive year, the event served as a general forum on wine world topics such as tariffs, dealcoholized wines, sales challenges, and the relationship with new generations.

The in-depth analysis of Soave took place during the masterclass “Soave Seven, from freshness to longevity” led by Jeff Porter, a writer for Wine Enthusiast, aimed at restaurateurs, operators, and the specialized press, followed by tastings at the exhibition stands on the terrace overlooking the Adige River. The goal: to tell the story of Soave’s different souls in a cross-sectional journey starting from the west, characterized by limestone soil, then to the east, with volcanic soil, and from the freshest vintages to the most evolved ones, demonstrating how Soave is a wine with a strong capacity for evolution over time.

A necessary premise: in 2019, the Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGA), or Soave’s crus, were officially established to identify the different identities of the Soave Classico area. The location is the volcanic hills on the slopes of the Prealps overlooking the Po Valley, facing south. As Professor Federico Righetto explained during a visit to the denomination’s vineyards, the hills are the result of tectonic movements and the northward push of the African plate, which helped raise the land from the sea that submerged it before the continental drift. A process completed over millions of years, but still far from being final.

In any case, the current situation of Soave Classico is defined by the Castelvero Fault and the lands lying to the east and west of this underground fracture. To the east of the fault lies a depression (graben) that millions of years ago was filled with a layer of lava from active volcanoes. The same did not happen in the western area. This is why we find white limestone sedimentations to the west, while volcanic rocks with their characteristic black color emerge to the east. The Soave Classico area is split in two by the Castelvero fault.

Many wineries have vineyards in one or both of the main zones, so the wine takes on particularly significant and different characteristics depending on their location. In their production strategies, wineries have deployed their best skills to best characterize their wines within their specific cru. Soave is thus a wine that has the characteristic of improving with time and should not be drunk quickly. Instead, it can express its best potential even after aging in wood and then in the bottle for several years. During the masterclass and the subsequent tasting at the stands, wines from different vintages were presented.

Appuntamento Soave: Verona’s white wine between present and future

Appuntamento Soave: Verona’s white wine between present and future

The ampelographic base is primarily 100% Garganega, though in some cases a percentage of Trebbiano di Soave is added to enrich the final yield. The 2023 and 2024 vintages showcased great energy, with significant notes of citrus and white fruit on the palate. These are appealing, easy-drinking bottles that satisfy the palate with any type of food pairing.

Freshness and minerality highlight their origins from a special terroir. In every glass, one finds the taste of good drinking, the ability to produce a wine suitable for all generations, fun and exciting. Note: we are not talking about a second-rate product, but a wine capable of making every sip and every moment spent with a glass in hand enjoyable.

The 2014, 2015, and 2016 vintages are by no means ordinary and testify to the longevity of a product that appeals to the full range of tastes of both Italian and foreign wine lovers. These are wines where the impact of wood—where present—does not feel out of place or jarring. On the palate, they all retain acidity and cleanliness, while the intensity is much improved, enriching the range of positive vibrations each sip provides.

On the nose, these wines develop high-profile aromas that recall their territorial identity, explaining the characteristics and details of their place of production, referencing cellar histories and aging in precious locations protected from harmful external agents.

«We are very pleased with the outcome of Appuntamento Soave,» comments Cristian Ridolfi, president of the Soave Consortium, «which, in its second edition, brings our wine back to the historic center of Verona. An event that saw broad and diverse participation, from restaurateurs and sommeliers to the general public of enthusiasts.»