Soave - A Veneto White Wine That Is Summer's Perfect Companion

Last month, I wrote about the white wines of Friuli because as summer approaches, many of us are on the lookout for tasty and interesting white wines. This month, I would like to continue talk about white wines from Italy, this time from their neighbors in the Veneto.

The Veneto has several wines that are world famous including the sparkling wine Prosecco as well as the famous red wines of Valpolicella and Amarone. In fact, the Veneto produces more bottles of DOC wine than any other region in Italy. Unfortunately, not all of it is really worth drinking. But, there is also a plethora of well-priced and enjoyable white wines from this region worth buying and taking pleasure in. One white in particular will be discussed here: Soave (pronounced SWAH-vay). Soave is the third most popular Italian wine produced (after Chianti and Asti) and the most popular white wine of Italy. Soave is usually served dry but sparkling versions exist.

The Veneto is located in Northeastern Italy. It includes the cities of Venice and Verona and also the surrounding countryside. Just south of Friuli, bordered on the east by the Adriatic, the Veneto has a mountainous north and lower plains in the south. The Romans called this region Venetia that gave both the area and the city of Venice its names. During the middle ages, Venice became a major trading post that bridged the wealth of Europe and Asia.