Recioto di Soave is an appellation in the province of Verona, in Veneto. It was part of the Soave DOC and became a separate DOCG in 1998. The area lies in the hills of the municipalities of Soave, Monteforte d'Alpone, San Martino Buon Albergo, Mezzane di Sotto, Roncà, Montecchia di Crosara, San Giovanni Ilarione, Cazzano di Tramigna, Colognola ai Colli, Caldiero, Illasi and Lavagno.
From acinatico to Scipione Maffei
Cassiodorus, minister of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, mentions an «acinatico bianco» expressly requested for the royal court, «made from grapes chosen from the household pergolas». The grape of the acinatico was called «retica». In the eighteenth century the Marquis Scipione Maffei was the first to give precise directions on how Recioto was made: «keeping the grapes until December, then pressing them gently in the great cold and storing the must». Recioto di Soave won its first recognition in 1906, at the Milan trade fair.
The grapes and the mentions
Recioto comes from at least 70% Garganega, with at most 30% Trebbiano di Soave and 5% other white grapes. It also exists as a sparkling wine. It ages about ten months and is released from 1 September of the year after the harvest. The Classico mention is reserved for the historic area, the hills of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone; the label can also name 33 additional geographical units, such as Castelcerino, Foscarino or Monte Grande. The minimum alcohol is 11.5%.
