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Veneto Native Vines – First Part
Rosa D'Ancona – May 15, 2007

Introduction

With its 78,000 hectares (over 192,742 acres) of vineyards and an average yearly production of 8,825 million hectoliters (over 223 million gallons) of wine, Veneto is among the largest wine producing regions in Italy.

Thanks to the great environmental variety, the respect and, in certain cases, the recuperation of ancient native vines at risk, and above all, to the dynamism of its producers, this region provides a great variety of high quality, valuable wines. The positive energy of the vitivinicultural sector of this region is reflected in the three DOCG, 22 DOC, and nine IGT wines produced.

The large variety of wine types produced reflects the different terroirs which characterize the region: from the Valpolicella zone, known for the unique Amarone, to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, renowned worldwide for the sparkling Prosecco, to the Verona area, where we find the best examples of the regional white wines, in the provinces of Vicenza and Padua, as well as the zones next to Lake Garda and Gambellara.

Wine production has truly ancient roots in Veneto, in fact, the regional connection to wine pre-dates Greek times and goes back to Etruscan-Retic civilizations, in particular to the ancient Arusnati who, abandoned the Adige Valley, found a new home on the shores of Lake Garda. In later times it was the Romans who provided incentives and extended vine cultivation and wine production. In Roman times the Retia wines, made with the Retica grapes, were widely appreciated and believe to be bested by the Falerno wines alone.

In addition to the great number of varietals grown here, the region has such a variety of different environments where the vines thrive, each with different characteristics which translate into typical character of the wines produced.

Among the most important native vines there are Raboso (various types), Corvina, Rondinella, Prosecco, Garganega, Vespaiola and Verdisio.

The Incrocio Manzoni (Manzoni Hybrid) 6.0.13, which takes the name from its creator, deserves a special mention. This white grape is the result of crossbreed of Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco, and was created by Professor Luigi Manzoni, of the Istituto Tecnico Agrario (Technical and Agricultural Institute) of Conegliano, between 1930 and 1935. Manzoni goal was to combine the characteristics of the two varieties in a crossbred vine. Currently this grape is used to make mainly dry wines, and, in some cases, lightly sparkling (frizzante) or full sparkling (spumante) wines.

In addition to native vines, international varieties are cultivated as well, and the Merlot, Cabernet, Pinots and Chardonnay give excellent results.

In addition to privately owned estates and family run businesses, the regional spectrum of producers include many cooperatives and consortiums. According to data provided by the Assessorato Regionale all'Agricoltura (Regional Agriculture Council) there are 1,100 companies which grow grapes and/or produce wine, and there are 44 Cantine Sociali (Wine Producing Cooperatives).

The largest part of export goes to other European Countries (68.2%), while the United States import 28.6% of the total, and 2.8% goes to Asia.

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