Wine regions in Veneto

With 39 wine regions within Veneto, it is Italy's most productive winemaking region. Primarily due to Prosecco (Glera) and 'delle Venezie' (mainly Pinot Grigio), 80% of its production involves white wine. Most important grape varieties ín Veneto are Glera, Garganega, Merlot, Corvina and Pinot Grigio.

It's also no coincidence that one of Europe's biggest wine fairs - Vinitaly - is hosted in Verona annually. This crowded fair that is only open to wine professionals is held in the spring.

I will take you for a more in-depth introduction to a beautiful wine region which has so much to offer that you are unlikely to be able to cover it in just one holiday.

The wine regions of Veneto

Veneto has a large number of different wine regions. Altogether, there are no fewer than 39 individual wine regions in which grapes are being cultivated and wines are being produced.

An overview of all the 39 wine regions within Veneto:

Valpolicella

Valpolicella Classico

Valpolicella Valpantena (Valpantena)

Asolo (Asolo Prosecco)

Bagnoli

Bardolino

Bardolino Classico

Colli di Conegliano

Colli Euganei

Conegliano Valdobbiadene-Prosecco

Lison

Montello

Piave

Gambellara

Soave

Soave Classico

Soave Colli Scaligeri

Arcole

Bagnoli di Sopra (Bagnoli)

Custoza

Breganze

Colli Berici

Colli Euganei

Corti Benedettine del Padovano

delle Venezie (Beneških Okolišev)

Garda

Lessini Durello (Durello Lessini)

Lison-Pramaggiore

Lugana

Merlara

Asolo Montello

Monti Lessini

Piave

Riviera del Brenta

San Martino della Battaglia

Valdadige (Etschtaler)

Valdadige Terradeiforti (Terradeiforti)

Vicenza

Serenissima

Veneto's most famous wine regions are undoubtedly Conegliano Valdobbiadene-Prosecco, Valpolicella, Bardolino and Soave.

Its location and climate make the region a fantastic area for viticulture. The main wine regions in the Veneto wine region are Valpolicella, Soave and, of course, Prosecco. The region also has a number of wine regions that are not as large and well-known, but which also produce the most delicious wines.

The most famous grapes from Veneto are the red Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara, Rondinello and the white grapes Glera (for Prosecco), Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave. Further down is a comprehensive list of all grape varieties from Veneto.

The best known wines of Veneto

Veneto is home to many different wines. We will provide some extra coverage of the most famous ones.

The Prosecco

The Prosecco is one of the most famous and most produced wine in Italy. In the past, its widespread popularity caused its high quality to decline. Prosecco was made from the prosecco grape. Not just in Veneto, but in many other places (even abroad). The winemakers from the original area (region around Valdobbiadene - Conegliano and Asolo) finally made sure that the wine was being protected and that rules were re-established so that the wine from their area could be sold as authentic Prosecco. Since the town of Prosecco is in Friuli (probably the origin of this particular grape variety), Prosecco is now allowed to be called Prosecco if it comes from Veneto or Friuli. In addition, the name of the grape was changed from Prosecco into Glera.

Prosecco DOCG wines are produced in the original area and need to comply with strict regulations. Furthermore, there are two Prosecco DOCG wines: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG. The best ones can be found in the Cartizze region near Valdobbiadene where there's a slightly cooler climate and where the best grapes are produced. The wine from this region is labelled Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze.

Prosecco is only made from a white grape (the Glera grape) (and therefore has no rosé version) and comes in three versions: the spumante (sparkling), the frizzante (slightly fizzy) and the tranquillo ( non-sparkling wine, although this is rare).

By the way, Prosecco is often confused with Champagne. For Prosecco, the second fermentation occurs in tanks and not in the bottles. The authentic Champagne from Italy is from the Franciacorta region, located a little to the left of Verona and Lake Garda. Just beneath Lake Iseo and between Bergamo and Brescia.

The Amarone della Valpolicella

Located just above Verona you will find the Valpolicella area. Many tourists who take the Brenner Pass to travel to Italy will pass the area near Lake Garda. The fact that delicious red wines are produced there will be unknown to most of them. So next time, you better plan a stopover.

The Amarone della Valpolicella has a DOCG quality label and is considered one of the best red wines made in Italy. What is special about this wine is the process of making it. Only the very best and really ripened grapes (the grape varieties are the Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and the Molinara) are picked manually and then dehydrated for 120 days on mats or in specially air-conditioned chambers. This gives the grapes extra concentration. They loose a lot of moisture, become extra concentrated and develop a very high sugar level. The wines develop body, a high alcohol percentage and a beautiful colour.

In addition to the Amarone della Valpolicella, the Valpolicella wine region is also home to the Valpolicella, the Valpolicella Superiore and the Recioto di Valpolicella.

The Soave

Located to the east of Verona is the lovely village of Soave. When you drive on the motorway, the beautiful Soave castle is already towering above the countryside. The area of the municipality of Soave is home to many wine producers who use the Garganega grape to make its delicious white wine. Besides this Garganega grape, the Trebbiano di Soave, the Chardonnay and the Pinot Blanc are also part of this wine. The Soave Superiore and the Recioto di Soave hold a DOCG label, while even the Soave DOC may already be considered among the higher-quality wines.

Besides the already mentioned grape varieties, Veneto is home to many other varieties. 

The different grapes grown in Veneto are: Alicante, Barbera Bianca, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Chardonnay, Cortese, Corvina, Corvinone, Durella, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Girò, Gewürztraminer, Glera, Malbec, Malvasia Nera, Manzoni Bianco, Marzemina Bianca, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Moscato, Pinella, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Sauvignon Blanc, Raboso, Refosco, Riesling, Rondinella, Sauvignon Blanc, Tai Rosso, Teroldego, Timorasso, Trebbiano, Verduzzo, Vespaiola and Welschriesling (Riesling Italico).

Overview of all wines from Veneto

The vineyards of Veneto produce the following wines (DOCG, DOC and IGT).

Veneto DOCG wines

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

Asolo Prosecco DOCG

Bagnoli Friularo / Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG

Bardolino Superiore DOCG

Colli di Conegliano DOCG

Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio / Fior d’Arancio Colli Euganei DOCG

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG

Lison DOCG

Montello Rosso / Montello DOCG

Piave Malanotte / Malanotte del Piave DOCG

Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Recioto di Gambellara DOCG

Recioto di Soave DOCG

Soave Superiore DOCG

Veneto DOC wines

Arcole DOC

Bagnoli di Sopra / Bagnoli DOC

Bardolino DOC

Breganze DOC

Colli Berici DOC

Colli Euganei DOC

Corti Benedettine del Padovano DOC

Custoza / Bianco di Custoza DOC

Delle Venezie DOC

Gambellara DOC

Garda DOC

Lessini Durello / Durello Lessini DOC

Lison-Pramaggiore DOC

Lugana DOC

Merlara DOC

Montello–Colli Asolani DOC

Monti Lessini DOC

Piave DOC

Prosecco DOC

Riviera del Brenta DOC

San Martino della Battaglia DOC

Soave DOC

Valdadige / Etschtaler DOC

Valdadige Terradeiforti / Terradeiforti DOC

Valpolicella DOC

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

Venezia DOC

Vicenza DOC

Vigneti della Serenissima / Serenissima DOC

Garda DOC

Lessini Durello / Durello Lessini DOC

Lison-Pramaggiore DOC

Lugana DOC

Merlara DOC

Montello–Colli Asolani DOC

Monti Lessini DOC

Piave DOC

Prosecco DOC

Riviera del Brenta DOC

San Martino della Battaglia DOC

Soave DOC

Valdadige / Etschtaler DOC

Valdadige Terradeiforti / Terradeiforti DOC

Valpolicella DOC

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

Venezia DOC

Vicenza DOC

Vigneti della Serenissima / Serenissima DOC

Veneto IGP/IGT wines

IGP Alto Livenza

IGP Colli Trevigiani

IGP Conselvano

IGP delle Venezie (pre-2017)

IGP Marca Trevigiana

IGP Trevenezie

IGP Vallagarina

IGP Veneto

IGP Veneto Orientale

IGP Verona / Provincia di Verona / Veronese

IGP Vigneti delle Dolomiti / Weinberg Dolomiten