Is Veneto Italy’s best-kept wine secret?

When travelling around Italy, it can be impossible to resist the pull of those famous canals in Venice. As the backdrop to so many iconic films and novels, Venice’s oh-so-romantic waterways, bridges and historic buildings make up some of the most recognisable scenes in the world. And while you could certainly spend your time here squeezing past tourists in the maze-like streets and jostling for spots to take a photo, we have some better ideas if you happen to be in the area. Venturing into the surrounding Veneto region brings serious rewards – especially if you like wine. The best bit? That goes for us armchair travellers, too.

Veneto is home to some incredible wines, with prosecco and Soave among its best known. Other top drops include those from Bardolino and Valpolicella, including the unique bold red, Amarone. One of the best things about Veneto is that most of its wine hubs, despite being incredibly diverse, are in easy reach. In fact, many subregions are within just an hour or two’s drive of Venice, as well as being on convenient train routes. So, there’s every reason to leave the crowds behind and discover why this underrated region deserves more fanfare. 

That’s all well and good if you’re swanning around Italy, but if a Venetian adventure isn’t in your near future, the next best thing is to taste some of the region’s best wines. It may not be quite the same thing as being there, but serve up these wines over an Italian feast with friends and you’re in for a very good time. To help make that happen, we run through a few key things to know about Italy’s Veneto wine region below, along with the top wines to try and wineries to bookmark if that dream Italian trip ever does become reality.

In the north-east of Italy, Veneto stretches from the Austrian border in the north to the Emilia-Romagna wine region in the south, taking in cities like Venice and Verona, the home of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Veneto spans a large area, comprising almost 30 subregions across diverse terrain and microclimates, and, as a result, it produces an array of distinctive and different wines. It also makes a lot of it, with this region rolling out more wine than any of Italy’s other main wine-producing areas. Pinot grigio accounts for much of that total, but there are plenty other great wines to uncover here, too.

Approachable whites, red wine styles spanning everything from light and fruit-forward to bold and intense, plus bright sparkling wines – Veneto does the lot. Incredibly well, too. Diversity is one of the region’s key strengths, so there’s plenty to get excited about here, wherever your tastes might lie. Take your pick from the main styles below.  

1. Prosecco

This bright, fresh and dry sparkling wine has become one of Italy’s greatest exports, and it all starts here in the Veneto. Well, it’s also made in the neighbouring wine region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, but it can be found in a total of nine provinces across this part of Italy. The sparkling wine is named after the town of Prosecco in Veneto’s north-east, and it’s made from the glera grape. Australian producers now make excellent prosecco here on our shores, but Italy’s expressions offer exceptional value, and their quality continues to rise. For a taste of these bubbles, we’re big fans of the Santa Margerita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadne (and not just because it’s often a major bargain, and even more so for My Dan’s members).  

For the dream itinerary: In Veneto’s quiet Marzotto, Santa Margarita’s cellar door offers top visitor experiences in a spectacular setting. A brilliant way to spend a day.

2. Soave

Pronounced swah-vay, there are few cooler names in the wine world, which is pretty fitting for this fruit-forward white that’s such a solid all-rounder. Made from the garganega grape and named after the town of Soave – one of the officially designated areas where the variety is grown – these wines are seriously yum. Think stone fruit, melon and citrus-zesty goodness, all wrapped up in a dry, light wine with a touch of richness. The Monte Tondo Soave Classico is an excellent example – and another great accessible drop. Soave works just as well as a pre-dinner drink as it does with food, and we especially love the Monte Tondo with seafood and chicken dishes.

For the dream itinerary: Plan your visit to Monte Tondo with an overnight stay at the winery’s accommodation. It’s a stunning site in the heart of Soave, where you can tour the winery, get a taste of their wider collection of wines and soak up the countryside setting.

3. Pinot grigio

Pinot grigio has rapidly made its way around the world, with so many different regions turning out this versatile white wine. And while Veneto is far from the only place pinot grigio thrives in Italy, it’s right at home across much of this region. Venetian styles tend to be refreshing and dry (read: ideal for just about any occasion), but being such an adaptable variety, there’s plenty of range across the various expressions. For a great introduction (and yes, two more super-affordable options), look to the Torresella Pinot Grigio and the Castello Del Poggio Pinot Grigio delle Venezie. Both are light and balanced, with fresh fruit flavours that won’t overpower any dish alongside them – they’re a perfect match with chicken salads and oily pastas.

For the dream itinerary: The Castello wine comes from Zonin, which has its cellar door in the heart of Gambellara, and they make wine from right across the Veneto wine region (and further afield), including popular proseccos.

4. Valpolicella

Just east of Lake Garda, hilly Valpolicella is best known for its eponymous red wines. They’re commonly made from corvina, rondinella and molinara, although other grape varieties are allowed, and these blends range in style from light and fragrant to rich and full-bodied. One of the best-known wines from here is Amarone, with a unique intensity (hint: the name translates to “great bitter”). It’s made from dried grapes, which creates a very ripe, full-bodied wine. Intrigued? Seek out the Zi’Ronda Amarone della Valipolicella, which is ideal for food that packs a punch, such as braised meats and mature cheeses. If you like your reds a little more restrained, try the Sartori Montegradella Valpolicella Classico Superiore – it’s still rich and ripe, but also juicy with a smooth finish.

For the dream itinerary: Stop by the striking Sartori winery in Valpolicella, where you can get a feel for their commitment to sustainable wine growing and make your way through the various tastings and tours on offer.