Recioto di Soave

Made from Garganega grapes dried for 3-6 months on traditional arelle racks. The name derives from "recie" (ears), referring to the wing-shaped upper clusters that receive the most sun. Golden and luscious with apricot, honey, candied citrus, and almond.

Recioto di Soave's history begins in the Soave zone of Veneto, where the tradition of drying grapes (appassimento) has been practiced for centuries. The region's unique terroir—volcanic and calcareous soils, continental climate, and hilly terrain—creates Garganega with distinctive character perfect for sweet wine production. The appellation received formal recognition in 1968 as DOC, then elevation to DOCG in 1998, codifying the production zone in the Soave area and quality standards. Recioto di Soave's distinctive character comes from the region's unique terroir—volcanic and calcareous soils—which creates Garganega with character perfect for sweet wine production. The wine's international reputation grew in the 1990s-2000s, when it became recognized as one of Italy's finest dessert wines, celebrated for its sweetness and elegance. Today, Recioto di Soave represents one of Italy's finest dessert wines, with the wine's sweet, honeyed character making it perfect for dessert pairings and aging.

Recioto di Soave production follows DOCG regulations. The wine must contain minimum 70% Garganega, with up to 30% other authorized white varieties. Harvest typically occurs in late September to early October, when Garganega has achieved optimal ripeness. The grapes are harvested by hand, then dried (appassimento) for 3-4 months in well-ventilated rooms, concentrating sugars and flavors. After drying, the grapes are gently pressed, and fermentation occurs at low temperatures to preserve aromatics. The wine is typically stopped before full fermentation to retain natural sweetness, with residual sugar typically 70-120 g/L. The wine must age minimum 2 years before release, with some producers aging longer for complexity. The wine must achieve minimum 12% alcohol and pass quality controls. The wine's sweet, honeyed character comes from the region's unique terroir—volcanic and calcareous soils—which creates Garganega with character perfect for sweet wine production.

Recioto di Soave represents Veneto's winemaking tradition, a wine that demonstrates the region's capacity for producing distinctive, elegant dessert wines. In Veneto homes and restaurants, Recioto di Soave flows at dessert courses, its sweet, honeyed character making it perfect for special occasions. For Venetians, Recioto di Soave represents the region's unique terroir, a wine that honors Garganega tradition while expressing the Soave zone's distinctive character.