Soave

History
The origin of grape-growing in Soave are very old, while there are different and ajar opinion about the historical origin of the name “Soave”.
The village was existing already in the Stone age , it was a “pagus” during the Roman Empire and became an historical centre during the Langobards invasion in 568, when a group of Suebi took place in this region. The name Soave could derive from this name Suebi, Svevi (in Latin Suaves), a group of Germanic people following King Alboin. There are many documents speaking about Soave and certainly the wines were always appreciated since ancient times, even if their fame mainly grew at the beginning of 900s, when the more important wine firms from Verona promoted their Soave wines, in Italy and abroad.

Zone of production
The zone of production of Soave is located in the Eastern part of the hills of Verona province and includes part or all the lands belonging to municipalities of Soave, Monteforte, San Martino B.A., Lavagno, Mezzane, Caldiero, Colognola, Illasi, Cazzano di Tramigna, San Bonifacio, Roncà, Montecchia and S. Giovanni Ilarione. Here Garganega vine, which is the maione in Soave DOC, has set ani deal habitat during the centuries, especially on the hills of Alpone valley, Tramigna valley, Illasi and Mezzane valleys.

Soils
Since the beginning of 20 century Soave has a specific identity, connected with the volcanic nature of the soil, volcanic tufa with important limestone presence. This is the main difference with Bardolino and Valpolicellla soils. In the extended and qualified wine overview of Verona, Soave region surely stands out for the special symbiosis between environment and vines, a unique terroir suitable for the production of great white wines.

Gapre varieties
Already in 1931 first between Italian wines, Soave had been identified as a “typical and fine”wine; protection and identity were definitively reiterated in 1968 with the recognition of “Denominazione di origine controllata”.

• Garganega: is not markedly aromatic in nature, but displays a small range of perfumes of which almonds and white flowers are the most clearly identifiable. Its biological development is very long, so that it does not actually complete its ripening until October. Its skin is very tough and is a particularly deep yellow (verging on red) when ripe. It does not display especially high acidity but rather an inviting balance of extract and fruit sugars.
• Trebbiano di Soave:in the ancient times , in the area of Verona, Brescia and Mantova, which are Soave and Lugana wine region, the vine was known with the old name of Turbiana, or Trebbiano Veronese. This vine was always present since Roman period. The name origin comes from Trebula which means “Farm”. Trebbiano di Soave has its specific characteristics of uniqueness, freshness and flavours. Its precocity force an early harvest, in comparison with the Tuscan variety, but in recent years it has shown itself to be the ideal partner in new enological profiles for the Soave of the future, especially its tangy liveliness blending with the typical structure and density of the Garganega variety.