| If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, | | | | Garganega and Prosecco. |
| consider the Veneto region of northern Italy. You | | | | Widely grown international red grape varieties |
| may find a bargain, and I hope that you'll have fun | | | | include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and |
| on this fact-filled wine education tour. | | | | Merlot. The best-known strictly Italian red varieties |
| Veneto is located in northeastern Italy on the Gulf | | | | are Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. |
| of Venice. The region is mountainous with all kinds | | | | Before we reviewing the Veneto wine and |
| of water; rivers, lakes, lagoons, and of course, | | | | cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase |
| canals. In its heyday, during the Renaissance | | | | at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, |
| (Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries), the Venetian | | | | here are a few suggestions of what to eat with |
| Republic ruled a large part of northern Italy, and | | | | indigenous wine when touring this beautiful region. |
| was a major player in the world of commerce | | | | Start with Pasta e Fasioli; Pasta and Bean Soup. |
| and culture. Veneto's present population is about | | | | Then try Risotto de Scampi; Scampi Risotto. |
| 4.5 million. | | | | For dessert indulge yourself with Torta de |
| Veneto's capital, Venice, is one of the world's top | | | | Paparele; Lemon Tagliatelle Cake. |
| tourist destinations, claiming 60 million visitors a | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have |
| year. Its attractions are too numerous to list here. | | | | communicated with well over a thousand Italian |
| Venice's neighbor, Padua, is the oldest city in | | | | wine producers and merchants to help prepare |
| northern Italy. Padua was the home of the | | | | these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we |
| famous astronomer Gallileo Gallilei. The | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| metropolitan region encompassing these two cities | | | | price. |
| has over 1.6 million people. Another city of interest | | | | Wine Reviewed |
| is Verona with its numerous Roman and medieval | | | | Corte Gardoni Bianco di Custoza DOC 2004 12.5% |
| monuments. | | | | alcohol about $8 |
| Agricultural products include cattle, corn, wheat, | | | | I'll start with the marketing materials. "Floral notes |
| sugar beets, and of course grapes. With all the | | | | mixed with sweet red Delicious apple and Bosc |
| water you can be sure that fish and seafood | | | | pear aromatics form the inviting and lifted nose. |
| abound. Rice is more important than pasta, and | | | | The flavors are quite different with citrus and |
| lovers of sweets will not be disappointed. | | | | green apples coming to the fore. It is light to |
| Industries include textiles, silk, shipbuilding, and | | | | medium-bodied, providing a tangy finish that would |
| sugar refining, but the major industry remains | | | | pair well with grilled, firm (tuna or sword) fish." |
| tourism. | | | | And now for my thoughts. |
| Veneto devotes almost 250 thousand acres to | | | | This wine was first paired to a commercial |
| grapevines, it ranks 3rd among the 20 Italian | | | | chicken pot pie with a bit of chili-lime hot sauce. I |
| regions. Its total annual wine production is almost | | | | tasted some apple. It was quite weak at first, but |
| 180 million gallons, also giving it a 3rd place. About | | | | did pick up some strength from sip to sip. |
| 45% of the wine production is red or | | | | The next meal was more in line with the |
| rosé, leaving 55% for white. The region | | | | marketing suggestions, namely grilled salmon filet |
| produces 24 DOC wines and 3 DOCG wines, | | | | with oven-baked potato patties and French fries. |
| Recioto di Soave, Soave Superiore, and Bardolino | | | | While there was some apple taste, essentially the |
| Superiore. DOC stands for Denominazione di | | | | wine didn't add anything to the meal. However, it |
| Origine Controllata, which may be translated as | | | | went well with dessert, thin biscuits containing |
| Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a | | | | almonds and pistachios. |
| high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for | | | | My next trial included chicken legs in a soy and |
| Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that | | | | onion sauce with rice and green beans. The wine |
| such wines are truly superior. Almost 30% of | | | | was not unpleasant but was light and fleeting. |
| Venetian wine carries the DOC or DOCG | | | | Montasio cheese is a specialty of the Veneto |
| designation. Veneto is home to about four dozen | | | | region. It is made from cow's milk and can have a |
| major and secondary grape varieties, | | | | sharp flavor when it ages. I was happy when the |
| approximately half white and half red. | | | | wine was able to handle this strong cheese. It |
| Widely grown international white grape varieties | | | | didn't do as well with an Asiago cheese, also from |
| include Trebbiano, Chardonnay, and Pinot Bianco, | | | | the Veneto area. |
| known as Pinot Blanc outside of Italy. The | | | | Final verdict, I won't be buying this wine again, |
| best-known strictly Italian white varieties are | | | | even at its relatively low price. |