Veneto Wine Region Guide

Italy’s Most Prolific Wine Region

Veneto, stretching across northeastern Italy from the shores of Lake Garda to the foothills of the Dolomites, produces more DOC wine than any other Italian region. It is a land of extraordinary diversity, home to everything from the world’s most popular sparkling wine to one of Italy’s most powerful and concentrated reds. Prosecco, Amarone, Soave, and Valpolicella represent just the headline acts of a region overflowing with winemaking tradition and innovation.

Prosecco: Bubbles for the World

Prosecco has become the world’s best-selling sparkling wine, produced from the Glera grape using the Charmat (tank) method to preserve fresh, fruity character. The finest expressions come from Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, where steep hillside vineyards produce wines of genuine complexity and finesse.

• Cartizze sub-zone — the most prestigious single-vineyard area
• Rive bottlings — single-vineyard wines with distinct terroir expression
• Superiore DOCG — hillside vineyards with stricter quality standards than basic Prosecco DOC

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone is one of Italy’s most unique and powerful wines, made using the appassimento method. Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes are dried on straw mats for several months after harvest, concentrating sugars, flavors, and tannins before fermentation.

• Flavor profile: Dried cherry, chocolate, coffee, and spice
• Alcohol: Typically reaches 15-16% due to concentrated sugars
• Recioto della Valpolicella — the sweet counterpart, using the same drying process but retaining residual sugar

Soave and White Wines

Soave, produced primarily from the Garganega grape in volcanic soils near Verona, is one of Italy’s finest white wines when sourced from the Classico zone.

• Soave Classico — delicate almond and white flower aromatics with mineral finish
• Pinot Grigio — light, crisp style from Veneto; top producers deliver surprising depth
• Volcanic soils — contribute distinctive minerality to the best whites

Valpolicella and Ripasso

Beyond Amarone, the Valpolicella zone produces a range of red wines at every price point:

• Basic Valpolicella — light, cherry-fruited, meant for easy drinking
• Valpolicella Ripasso — re-fermented on Amarone grape skins, adding body and richness at a more accessible price
• Valpolicella Superiore — from hillside vineyards with stricter yield limits

Why Veneto Matters for Wine Lovers

Veneto offers something for every palate and budget, from casual Prosecco and Pinot Grigio to serious Amarone and aged Soave Classico. Its sheer range makes it an ideal region for exploring the breadth of Italian winemaking in a single geographic area.

Explore Veneto with Sommo

Use the Sommo app to scan Veneto wines and instantly learn about the appellation, grape variety, and winemaking method. Build your knowledge of this essential wine region one bottle at a time.