The Arcole DOC designation, established in 2000, covers 21 municipalities between the provinces of Verona and Vicenza, with 2,500 and 1,000 hectares of vineyards respectively.

This distinctive territory, with sandy and silty soils, gives the wines unique characteristics, producing full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet, also available as Riserva, and white wines like Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco.

The production regulations allow, in certain areas, the use of the grape variety name alongside the designation.

The Bagnoli DOC area extends across the plain stretching from the Euganean Hills towards Venice. This is a highly fertile countryside, with alluvial soils reclaimed over the centuries by Benedictine monks and the Republic of Venice. The boundaries are defined by the Bacchiglione River to the north and the Adige River to the south.

Among the grape varieties of the denomination, the native Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG holds a particularly important role. The only municipality within the denomination entitled to use the term “Classico” is Bagnoli di Sopra.

The production area of Bardolino covers a large part of the morainic amphitheatre of Lake Garda on the Veneto side, with the Mincio River forming its western boundary, except for a portion of the municipality of Peschiera del Garda.

Bardolino wine is mainly produced from Corvina Veronese grapes, with the addition of Rondinella and, where permitted, other minor varieties. It is delicately fruity, with notes of cherry, sour cherry, strawberry, raspberry, red currant and spices (cinnamon, clove, black pepper). It has a bright ruby red color and a dry, smooth taste, characterized by the same fresh red fruit sensations perceived on the nose, slightly spicy, well-balanced and refreshing. It is a highly drinkable wine, very versatile in food pairings.

The Breganze Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) is the first in the Vicenza area, established in 1969 in the Pedemontana Vicentina, a region long known for its strong winemaking tradition.

The Breganze DOC includes fifteen types of wine, among which the most well-known and representative is undoubtedly Breganze Torcolato, produced from the finest dried grapes of Vespaiola, the native variety of Breganze. Torcolato has a deep golden yellow color and aromas reminiscent of honey and raisins. Its sweet-but-not-cloying taste is harmonious, velvety, full and rounded, recalling ripe fruit, honey and sultanas. It is an excellent meditation wine, ideal both on its own and at the end of a meal, paired with dry pastries or, even better, with blue cheeses.

The Colli Berici are located in the southern part of the province of Vicenza, an area characterized by limestone rock, red clay soils and basaltic soils of volcanic origin. The relatively high altitude helps to prevent fog and late frosts, while annual rainfall is limited.

Thanks to these environmental characteristics, this area is able to produce wines with strong character and personality, especially red wines. The Colli Berici Cabernet Franc, for example, was the first in Italy to receive DOC status. Among the most distinctive grape varieties is Tai Rosso, a native grape that reflects the unique characteristics of the different areas suited to its cultivation.

The Vicenza DOC, on the other hand, was established in 2000 and covers a very واسعة area, rich in diversity due to the morphology of the territory. A particular pride of this area is that Pinot Grigio here was the first in Italy to receive DOC recognition.

The designation was established in 1998 to enhance the uniqueness and identity of the territory, which corresponds to the eastern Treviso foothills.

Still wines are produced here, characterized by aromatic and flavor intensity, including the Bianco, Rosso Refrontolo and Refrontolo Passito, made from Marzemino grapes.

Also noteworthy is the other passito wine, Torchiato di Fregona, with its golden color, produced— as the name suggests—through a particular pressing method using a traditional wine press.

The Colli Euganei are hills of volcanic origin located near the spa towns of Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme, in the province of Padua.

Most vineyards are situated at altitudes ranging from 50 to 300 meters, reaching up to nearly 400 meters. The climate of the Colli Euganei is temperate, with almost Mediterranean conditions: mild winters, warm and dry summers, and significant temperature variations. This makes it a particularly suitable area for wine production.

The red wines of the Colli Euganei achieve excellent phenolic ripeness and, thanks to a well-balanced ratio between sugars and acids, express wines with strong structure, great balance and smoothness on the palate. White grape varieties such as Moscato, Serprino, Pinello and Chardonnay produce relatively low yields but with high sugar levels and good acidity balance. Young white wines are appreciated for their fresh character, while among aromatic varieties Moscato deserves special attention, as this is one of the areas in Veneto where it reaches its highest expression.

The Conegliano Valdobbiadene area extends across a hilly territory located 50 km from Venice and about 100 km from the Dolomites.

This location ensures a temperate climate, with an average annual temperature of 12.3°C and constant ventilation, which helps protect the grapes from humidity. The Glera grape variety has found its ideal environment on these hills for more than three centuries.

The designation includes three types of sparkling wine: DOCG, Rive DOCG and Superiore di Cartizze DOCG. In much smaller quantities compared to sparkling wines, Conegliano Valdobbiadene is also produced in Frizzante and Tranquillo versions. In these cases, the term Prosecco is not followed by the adjective “Superiore”.

The “delle Venezie” designation covers a vast area across north-eastern Italy, including territories in the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Trentino—areas historically under the Lion of the Republic of Venice.

The DOC was established with the aim of preserving the Pinot Grigio grape variety in particular, as well as enhancing all production previously marketed as IGT, in a region that is the most important in Italy in terms of volume, among other factors.

The designation includes the south-eastern production areas of the province of Padua and the southern area of the province of Venice, with grape varieties such as Raboso, Refosco, Tocai, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco.

Among the wines produced are Raboso and Raboso Passito, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Tai (formerly Tocai). The name “Corti Benedettine” derives from ancient religious models of agricultural development, typical of these areas.

The Custoza DOC takes its name from the homonymous village in the municipality of Sommacampagna, in the province of Verona.

The production area is relatively limited and covers most of the southern sector of the morainic hills extending between the surroundings of the city of Verona and Lake Garda. Custoza DOC is a white wine known for its freshness, aromatic profile, and remarkable drinkability and versatility in food pairings. It is made from a traditional blend that, alongside native varieties such as Garganega, Trebbianello and Bianca Fernanda, also includes other grapes cultivated in the area, resulting in a typical and highly complex aromatic profile.

It shows distinctive fruity and floral notes, sometimes accompanied by hints of herbs and spices. Alongside the traditional Custoza, small quantities of Custoza Superiore are also produced, made from grapes selected from specific local crus, as well as Custoza Spumante and Custoza Passito.

Gambellara DOC is produced exclusively in the vineyards located within four municipalities, covering just over one thousand hectares in total.

The wine produced is “Gambellara”, available in three types: Gambellara, Gambellara Recioto and Gambellara Vin Santo, which in recent years have also been presented in the “Classico” version to better identify wines originating from the hillside vineyards of Gambellara and neighbouring municipalities at the mouth of the Chiampo Valley and at the foothills of the Lessini Mountains.

A white wine with a pale, bright straw-yellow colour, Gambellara has a fresh and delicate aroma with a light elderflower fragrance. The taste is dry and lively, with a pleasant hint of almond; its alcohol content is 11°. It pairs ideally with seafood dishes, from shellfish to white soups, as well as river fish and white meats, including oven-baked kid goat casserole, a local specialty.

The Garda DOC covers a production area extending from Valtènesi to Valpolicella, from the banks of the Mincio River to the city of Verona, within a mainly hilly landscape surrounding the lake of the same name.

The Garda DOC was recognized in 1996 with the aim of enhancing varietal wines produced across 10 historic denominations in the Lake Garda area between Lombardy and Veneto: Valtènesi, San Martino della Battaglia, Lugana, Colli Mantovani, Custoza, Bardolino, Valpolicella, Valdadige, Durello and Soave.

The “Veneto” Typical Geographical Indication (IGT) wines, whether white, red or rosé, must be produced from vineyards composed of one or more grape varieties grown in the provinces of Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona and Vicenza, within the Veneto Region.

They may also be produced in a semi-sparkling version, and, only for red grape varieties, as Novello wines.

The IGT categories in Veneto are as follows: Alto Livenza, Colli Trevigiani, Conselvano, Delle Venezie, Marca Trevigiana, Vallagarina, Veneto and Veneto Orientale.

Durella is the native grape variety of the Lessini Mountains, an ancient and rustic vine that produces golden grapes characterized by a distinctive acidic taste and a thick skin rich in tannins.

Durella has been documented in the Lessini Mountains since at least the Middle Ages, a thousand years that have allowed it to fully express its nature and today give Lessini Durello DOC sparkling wines their typical volcanic minerality derived from the soils.

Lessini Durello DOC is a fresh, enjoyable sparkling wine full of character, with aromas reminiscent of Renetta apple and yellow citrus fruits, and marked minerality. It is produced in two styles: Lessini Durello DOC Metodo Italiano/Charmat and Lessini Durello DOC Metodo Classico.

The Lugana DOC is produced in just five municipalities within the morainic amphitheatre on the border between the provinces of Brescia and Verona, at the southern end of Lake Garda.

The grape variety used is Turbiana, an indigenous vine which, combined with the clay-rich soils of the area, gives life to a fresh, savory white wine with a strong mineral character. There are five different styles: Lugana base, Superiore, Riserva, Vendemmia Tardiva and Spumante.

The ageing potential of the “dry” and “still” versions varies depending on the type and style. Today, production is increasingly oriented towards stainless steel vinification and “sur lie” ageing, as well as mixed ageing (part in steel and part in wood) for the most important selections such as Lugana Superiore and Lugana Riserva, with the awareness that this wine can be even more long-lived than in the past.

The base version can age in the cellar for up to five years, while the Superiore and Riserva versions have an evolutionary potential that can easily extend to around ten years.

The name Merlara DOC comes from the first municipality that hosted the Cooperative Winery in the 1950s, although the vineyards also extend into other areas of the province of Padua.

In addition to Merlara, they are found in Casale di Scodosia, Castelbaldo, Masi, Montagnana and Urbana, and extend into the Veronese municipalities of Bevilacqua, Boschi Sant’Anna and Terrazzo.

This is a highly fertile area, also for agriculture, where grape production has been documented since the 10th century.

The production area is located in the province of Treviso, at the foot of Monte Grappa, on the foothills west of the Piave River, between the Dolomites and the plain leading towards Venice.

Here, vines grow by sinking their roots into marl soils—clay conglomerates with a typical reddish colour—which, shaped over thousands of years by natural erosion, have formed beautiful sinkholes, both gentle and deep. These soils provide a mineral-rich substrate that allows the vines to enrich their grapes.

The production of both red and white wines is abundant and varied. Among the grape varieties, Recantina deserves special mention: a native variety at risk of extinction, cultivated in the Treviso area for nearly four centuries, almost disappeared in the early 20th century and now recovered thanks to long and careful research work.

The Prosecco DOC is probably the most well-known Italian denomination in the world.

Prosecco is produced mainly from Glera grapes (at least 85%), while the remaining percentage may include Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Glera Lunga, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero vinified as white wine. The soils suitable for its production are well-exposed and well-drained hillside areas.

There are three types of Prosecco: Tranquillo, Frizzante and Spumante, and depending on sweetness levels it can be classified as Brut, Extra Dry or Dry. Known as the ultimate aperitif wine, it also proves surprisingly versatile throughout an entire meal.

The Soave production area is located in the eastern part of the hilly arc of the province of Verona, on volcanic tuff soils with significant limestone outcrops.

The use of the term “Classico” is reserved for wines obtained from grapes harvested and vinified in the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d’Alpone, where the oldest and original area, known as the “historic zone”, is located. Soave DOC can be considered one of Italy’s finest white wines. Produced from Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave grapes, it is a highly drinkable wine that maintains fragrance and lightness combined with vibrant freshness.

It has a straw-yellow colour with greenish reflections and a rich, floral bouquet with hints of acacia and wisteria. The taste is soft and harmonious with a persistent, velvety finish. It is a wine suitable for the entire meal, although its best pairings are seafood dishes, shellfish and white meats.

In the sandy soils of the Adige River Valley, an area characterized by medieval fortresses from which the name “Terra dei Forti” derives, ancient grape varieties are preserved, such as Enantio—already mentioned by the Romans in the 1st century AD—which produces a wine of great complexity, and Casetta, also a ruby-red wine with a strong and distinctive personality. These are complemented by varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

Production includes Enantio, Enantio Riserva, Enantio Passito, Casetta, Casetta Riserva, as well as the more classic Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Passito wines.

Valpolicella wines are characterized by the use of native grape varieties from the territory.

The ampelographic base is mainly composed of Corvina and Corvinone, Rondinella, and other indigenous varieties. Corvina is the most important grape in Valpolicella blends thanks to its technological properties during vinification and its phenolic characteristics, providing structure and body to the wine.

Its essential features include moderate alcohol content, medium-high total acidity with a frequent presence of malic acid, a light and smooth structure, easy drinkability, modest tannins, and a bright color with garnet reflections. On the sensory level, it is fragrant, with floral aromas and notes of sour cherry, showing freshness and finesse.

The production area is the homonymous valley in the province of Verona. The use of the term “Classico” is reserved for wines produced in the oldest and original area, vinified within the same zone, which includes the five municipalities of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Fumane, San Pietro in Cariano, Marano and Negrar.

The Venezia DOC was established in 2010 with the aim of bringing together the finest expressions of local winemaking.

The wines are the result of grape varieties that, at the end of the 19th century, populated the long strip of land stretching from the lagoon to the Dolomites. In 2010, at the initiative of the Consorzio Vini Venezia, a collection of the different varieties found in gardens, vegetable plots and cloisters within the lagoon city was recreated.

A “treasure” of varietal biodiversity is now preserved within the Convento dei Carmelitani Scalzi in Venice. The wines represented by the DOC include Pinot Grigio DOC Venezia, Rosé DOC Venezia, Spumante DOC Venezia, Merlot DOC Venezia and Chardonnay DOC Venezia.