Soave DOC and Soave Classico DOC

Wine made from Garganega in the Soave region is assigned a level to determine its quality.

Soave: A simple Soave with DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) written on it will be a young, fresh and early-drinking wine with simple fruity flavours. This affordable and simple style of wine is predominantly made in flatlands. 

Soave Classico: This is a wine made using grapes that grow on the sides of hills enjoying maximum sun exposure. These styles of wines are slightly riper, with a bit more complexity and mouthfeel.  

Here are some other types of Soave that you may come across:

Soave Spumante: Sparkling Soave wine

Soave Colli Scaliger: Soave wines made on the hills that have a superior terroir, but do not come under the classico zone.

Superiore: This indicated that the Soave wine, irrespective of its style, was made using high quality grapes and was aged for at least eight months. Only one percent of Soave's wines carry this appellation. 

Older Vintage

Although Soave, as a wine, is not meant for long-term ageing, you may come across a handful of wines that have clocked in some years. These high-quality wines develop complex aromas of fennel, honey, caramelised onions and lemon preserves.

Recioto di Soave DOCG

While we know this variety for producing dry wines, Garganega also produces unctuous sweet wines, using the Appassimento method, in which late-harvest or dried grapes are fermented instead of fresh ones. After harvesting the grapes, the winemakers dry them out for several weeks or months. While earlier they used to do so on straw mats, they now dry the grapes on steel trays in temperature-controlled rooms. This accelerates the drying process and helps winemakers to keep an eye on development of the noble rot.

These sweet wines are made in both Soave and Gambellara regions under the name Recioto and have a rich texture, alongside aromas of honey, candied lemon peel, tropical fruits and sweet spices.