|
|
 |
Soave
|
Classification: DOC (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata - Quality wines produced in a specific region)
Color: straw-yellow with greenish highlights
Region of production: Soave (province of Verona) and surrounding areas
Alcohol content: 10.5%
Grapes used: Garganega (min. 70%), Pinot Bianco (up to 30%), Chardonnay (up to 30%), Trebbiano di Soave (up to 30%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOAVE: THE NAME OF THIS WINE IN ITALIAN MEANS GENTLE AND SOFT |
|
|
Soave is a wine with a international reputation and is produced from the plane of the river Adige in the north of Italy, all the way to the foothills that lead to its namesake city of Soave; this area is marked by a series of little towns with castles built by the Della Scala family and is brimming with history. Thanks to their favorable position in relation to the sun, the Garganega vineyards are known for their high yield. Their golden grapes are crushed to produce Soave Classico, with a minimum alcohol content of 10.5%, and Soave Superiore boasting 11.5%. In addition to the still Soave varieties, there is also the Soave Spumante DOC (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata - Quality wines produced in a specific region), which is also worth discovering.
Beyond the pleasant sound of the name, which the flavor of the product certainly lives up to, the origin of the term Soave can almost certainly be traced back to the "Svevi" (Swabian) people who descended from the North during the Longobard period. But certain legends attribute this appellative to the illustrious Dante Alighieri, or the unfortunate Romeo during an amorous tussle with Juliet, while historic sources document its use from the reign of Theodoric.
The towns of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone are the areas in which Soave DOC becomes Classico. This wine should be drunk young, but if the facilities are available, it may be left to age for a couple of years in a cellar. Its bouquet is delicate, with floral and almond notes that recall elder and cherry. Its dry flavor, with a final pleasantly bitter note, goes excellently with both lean meat and seafood antipasti, delicate cheeses, vegetable savory pies and radicchio omelets. The sparkling (spumante) version is lovely as a before-dinner cocktail. When the still wine is served at 10-12°C one appreciates the complexity of the flavor and bouquet that goes very nicely with egg and fish dishes.
The unobtrusive charm of its fragrant notes and it prolonged flavor make it a boon companion for fish dishes: fish baked in paper, moleche and fish bisques. In the case of special vintages, is can even take on fragrant notes of acacia and apple, which render it even more unusual and precious.
|
|
|
|
|
