This is what one might refer to as un’occasione. In an effort to let enthusiasts get a real sense of the wines produced in thsi Veneto zona DOC, fifteen producers from the Colli Euganei are gathering in the beautiful Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista (c. 1251) next Monday afternoon. If you’re in town, and you’re at all interested in wine, please do stop by.
What to expect?
The Colli (hills) Euganei region lies south and just east of Padova, and is formed roughly by a triangle of the three towns of Vo, Torreglia, and Arqua Petrarca (a lovely stop if your winding your way through the Veneto, by the way). The wines are young, a mix of spumante and still, red and white, dry and sweet. The whites are pleasing, fresh, and aromatic; the reds structured but not imposing. You’ll find varieties you recognize, like Chardonnay, Riesling (Italico), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and others you may be less familiar with:
- Pinello (recent white, fresh, dry, still or spumante)
- Serprino (similar to Prosecco)
- Tocai Italico
- Cabernet Franc
The Bianco DOC may consist of any or all of the white varieties in specified percentages; the Rosso DOC will combine reds that may even include Barbera. Look for the fresh spumanti like Fior d’Arancio, a famed moscato giallo, whose sweetness is balanced by a fresh acidity and an exploding bouquet, and the rarer Moscato Rosso di Parenzo, a red aromatic that you must try should it be offered.
You may also find less familiar ways of vinifying these wines, but do adventure there as well: some of the passiti, dessert wines fermented from what might be termed as raisins, with round concentrated fruit balanced by higher alcohol, yet still-fresh acidity.
The producers you’ll find are:
- Alla Costiera
- Ca’ Lustra
- Ca’ Orologio
- Castello di Lispida
- Colle Mattara
- Conte Emo Capodilista – La Montecchia
- Il Filò delle Vigne
- Il Mottolo
- Monteforche
- Montegrande
- Sengiari
- Vignalta
- Vigna Roda
- Vignale di Cecilia e Villa Sceriman
I do hope you can make it. Salute!