VALPOLICELLA & SOAVE WINES

In 1405 Verona province submitted to the Republic of Venice that gave new impetus to agricultural activities, especially massive goat and sheep breeding, hay production, seasonal vegetables, abundant wild game, and extensive wine production.

Venetian nobility purchased large plots of arable land and had stylish Villas built, which today add so much charm to this beautiful place.

The family-run winery selected for your ‘Best Valpolicella and Soave wines’ tour stands in a scenic and cozy small town, celebrated for the vine parcels producing premium wines, thanks to the passion and knowledge handed down to generations over the decades.

The four specific denominations are made from the same grapevines, although styles differ from each other.

The basic wine is Valpolicella Doc, a cherry-flavored and purple-red wine, but the flagship of the appellation is Amarone DOCG, considered one of the best aged red wines in the country, as much as Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino.

The etymology derives from ‘amaro’ referred to the name of dry regional wines mentioned in a Verona guidebook by the learned novelist Scipione Maffei in 1732.

It will be a treat to taste fresh food and different wines with the producers. Do not hesitate to apply for questions, it’s fun!

Your private ‘Best Valpolicella and Soave wines’ tour continues with a gourmet lunch. Passionate gourmets should not miss the Enoteca Regionale della Valpolicella, a traditional restaurant with a prestigious showcase of the finest Verona wines.

The afternoon moves forward with an exciting experience in the charming Soave DOC area, whose name brings to mind old traditions dating back from the Medieval Age.

The fascinating town of Soave originated as a Roman center whose name derives from “Soavi” tribe, which settled down here in the 6th cent. AC after the fall of the Roman Empire.

The intact square-shaped walls date from the 14th century and encircle a residential village of 7000 residents, a few historic churches, a decorated Medieval Palace of Justice, and a massive brick Castle with a tall tower overlooking the small town below.

Despite the short distance from Verona, the landscape of this vineyard area is unique: the two major centers of the Classico subzone, Soave and Monteforte d’Alpone, are located at the bottom of a wide semi-circular basin comprising three valleys forged by volcanic activity millions of years ago, with silty clay and limestone soils on the plain and basaltic and tufaceous rocks on the steep hills, where winemaking has constantly developed since ancient times.

The main varietals are Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave that generate crispy and fine white wines.

You will be delighted by the tasting of each wine in a winery within the walls. It will enhance your first-hand experience and benefit from exclusive access to private estates.

At the end of your full-day tour, you drive back to your departure site, in the company of our wine expert.

For further in-depth tours of Veneto wines, go to links…

NEW! Walks Inside Italy suggested options

Would you like to learn more about regional food specialties? Instead of the afternoon Soave tasting, you can visit a Rice Mill in southern Verona with our guide.

That area has been ideal for rice growing since the Renaissance age when the Republic of Venice imposed duties on this cereal imported from the Far East. In 1992 the Riso Vialone Nano Veronese varietal was awarded the IGP quality title by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture!

We spend a few hours in the rice fields and listen to the fascinating story of the ground preparation, the flooding of plots and sowing in April, the rice peeling process, known as ‘monda’, and the harvest.

Finally, we walk to the factory and watch the rice processing cycle in its varied phases, still operated by the old artisanal tools for diverse rice varieties, or by modern machinery for the regular ones.

You will taste a rice-based appetizer, and learn about the incredible range of food products deriving from such a small grain.

Due to technical reasons, we recommend to join this tour from April through October.

Apart from ‘Best Valpolicella and Soave wines’ we suggest you more tours designed for food&wine lovers such as TREVISO: A SUBTLE CHARM

At www.walksinsideitaly.com you will find more wine tours, about Chianti or Franciacorta area