Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
drop that pairs well with meat and game. If you're looking for a fine white, try Lugana
DOC (
www.consorziolugana.eu
).
Alongside France, Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, processing 45 to 50 million hecto-litres
per year, around one-third of the world's contribution. Of this, 1.1 million hectolitres come from Lom-
bardy.
Soave
West of Verona, the town of Soave (
www.ilsoave.com
) rests next to a castle-topped hill
whose slopes are dense with vineyards. Some of Italy's finest white wines come from
here. The local garganega grape dominates the area's two white DOCGs, Recioto di Soave
and Soave Superiore.
Valcalepio
The Valcalepio wine region between Bergamo and Lake Iseo is just beginning to make a
name for itself. Since the 1970s, small local holdings have been continually refining their
two main DOC products: a red that blends merlot and cabernet sauvignon (and which also
comes in an aged
riserva
version) and whites that combine pinot bianco and pinot grigio
varieties. You will also come across a sweet dessert
passito
using moscato grapes, which
is perfect as an accompaniment for pastries and dessert.
Valpolicella
Led by the outstanding Amarone della Valpolicella DOC (using dried corvina, rondinella
and molinara grapes), this region, which stretches north-northwest up the valleys parallel
to Lake Garda from Verona, is one of the best-known names in northern Italian wine.
While many Valpolicella reds are light, pleasant wines, the flagship Amarone (literally
'big sour one') is big, bold and dry. It is accompanied by another signature red, also made
with dried grapes, the somewhat sweeter Recioto.
Valtellina
Like a well-behaved Milanese dinner companion, the Valtellina
(
www.consorziovinivaltellina.com
)
red is distinctive and rich without being too forward -
Leonardo da Vinci loved the stuff. The area boasts two DOCG classifications, a general
