2018 Pra Soave Classico Otto

Prà in Monteforte d’Alpone was started by Graziano Prà’s grandfather in the early 20th century, and since the 1980s Graziano has been in charge. The 75-acre estate is renowned for its white wines, especially Soave, traditionally the king of Veronese white wines. However Prà has in recent decades also earned admiration for its red wines, which, like the whites, are made from indigenous grapes. Besides Soave, which is made from the Garganega and Trebbiano grapes, the estate produces Amarone and Valpolicella, red wines made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta. The estate is farmed organically and produces 220,000 bottles a year. Gambero Rosso has often awarded the estate’s Soave Classico 3 Glass awards.

Veneto in northeastern Italy is one of the country’s most important wine regions and has 220,000 acres of vineyards. It is the third largest wine producing region in Italy after Sicily and Puglia. Though Veneto produces more red than white wine, it is most famous for its Soave and Prosecco, both white wines. Venice is the best-known city in the region, but the area’s wine-making capital is Verona. Close to Verona are the appellations for Bardolino, Valpolicella and Soave. The Veneto is also home to Amarone, the densely concentrated, seriously alcoholic, big red wines made by using grapes that are partially or fully dried. The results are lush, sometimes nearly syrupy red wines that approach 20% alcohol, even though most are not sweet. The most famous conventional red wine is Valpolicella, which means “valley of many cellars.” The name is perhaps a reference to the fact that Veneto is home to a number of indigenous grapes not found elsewhere, including the deep red grapes Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, all used to make Valpolicella. Garganega is the indigenous white grape used for Soave.