Come with me to stunning Soave

The town shares its name with one of Verona’s best-loved wine regions: Soave. The fruit of this land of plenty which is world famous.

The charm of the mediaeval town

Hilly terrain with little villages sheltered in the folds of the land, farms with courtyards, mediaeval castles and old Veneto villas, all set against a background of seemingly endless vineyards. This is where the famous Soave wine comes from, the favourite of poet Gabriele D’Annunzio. If you are seeking a relaxing destination, somewhere different for your visit to Verona, Soave might be the place for you. Soave is a town with a glorious history and that atmosphere of the past can still be felt today in the streets of the old town, surrounded by the mediaeval walls. The main attraction is the Scaliger castle, a mighty fortress built by the ruling Della Scala family in the Middle Ages, one of the best surviving examples in the region. The castle, which dates back to the start of the 10th century, at the time of Hungarian invasions, is open to visitors all year round and is also a venue for private parties, weddings, receptions and other events.

The perfect environment for vines

This is a place which lives and breathes wine, where farmers have learned how to make full use of this bountiful mineral-rich land that is perfectly suited to growing vines, in a tradition which has shaped both the landscape and its people. The fruits of their labours is a bright and very fresh wine, pale yellow in colour and with a distinctive floral bouquet with pleasing notes of white flowers and almond with a full-bodied but slightly bitter taste, with the hints of vanilla commonly found in wines matured in wooden casks, as is the case with the premium version, Soave Superiore. 
The story of the name of this wine is unclear but fascinating: it is said that it actually refers to the great poet Dante Alighieri, a close friend of Cangrande della Scala, the lord of Verona, who described the city as “soave” meaning “sweet” in reference to the good local wine and the hospitality of the inhabitants. Whatever the reason, there is a long history of quality wine from Soave, dating back as far as the 5th century AD when Cassiodorus sang its praises, recommending to Emperor Theodoric a wine which “shines like drinking milk, with flawless clarity [...], joyful purity and incredible delicacy.”

Not just wine in beautiful Soave! If you are looking for something to eat with this delightful white wine, look no further. One of the local delicacies is Soave ham and Sopressa di Brenton, a cured sausage, which pairs wonderfully with the wine!  A visit to Soave is a treat for all the senses. When I visit this area, I love the colours of the landscape, the scent of nature and the flavours of the local products, obviously all washed down with a glass of Soave Classico Superiore white wine.