Hundreds of wine professionals – and wine lovers – flocked to the Wines of the Veneto tasting in association with Decanter last week.
Thirty-eight producers from the northern Italian region, including a dozen Prosecco producers, Amarone della Valpolicella, Soave, Bardolino and other key DOCs.
In all, 21 regions were represented at the tasting at the Institute of Directors, in Pall Mall in the heart of London last week.
There was also a packed masterclass led by Peter McCombie MW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIfGEu6VYSg&hl=en&fs=1
The Veneto is one of the biggest wine-growing regions in Italy, encompassing the Piave plain to the east, Prosecco in the hills around Valdobbiadene, the the hills of Padua and Vicenza, the classic wines of Verona: Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella, and the famous white wines of Lugana and Custoza.
Asked what they felt would be the most important wines of the Veneto for the next generation, producers from all these diverse terroirs felt that Prosecco, Soave and Valpolicella would be preeminent for many years.
Count Giordano Capodilista of Conte Emo Capodilista said, ‘I think Soave and Valpolicella – and Prosecco – are the most important DOCs.’
On his part, Antonio Bonotto, president of the Vini Veneti DOC, was at pains to stress there were many other regions that should command our attention,
‘Of course, Prosecco or Amarone are assured of the most success but don’t forget regions like like Piave, Bardolino and Lugana. They will be very famous in the next generation.’
Roberto Cremonese of Prosecco giant Bisol said, ‘Five years ago in the UK you only found Prosecco in cheap Italian restaurants. Now it is a cool alternative to Champange
The event – open to 155 members of the wine trade during the day – admitted around 200 wine lovers for the evening session. Many said they were surprised by the range of wines on offer.
‘I’m more of a Bordeaux man really, and dabble in Tuscany, but I thought I’d come along and get a feel for the Veneto.
‘I was expecting to be tasting lots of heavy Amarones but I’ve had some lovely, fresh Proseccos which have really perked me up after a tough day at the office,’ said Simon Woodhouse.
Another consumer, Matt Roberts, found the event ‘well-organised, with some really interesting, unusual wines.’ He added one disappointment was that so few were available in the UK. ‘I would have loved to have been able to buy some.’
Written by decanter.com staff
