Home / Summaries / D3 Reading: Wines of the World / soave-di-maximum

Veneto - Soave - Wine law and regulations

Q: Describe the regulations of Soave DOC

Grapes from the entire Soave region (now three times larger than the original region of 1931) A minimum of 70% must be Garganega, with up to 30% of Trebbiano di Soave (local synonym for Verdicchio) or Chardonnay. Of this 30%, a maximum of 5% can be any other authorized variety. Maximum yield is a substantial 105 hL/ha. The wine can be sold very young, after 1 December of the year of harvest. Production is around 80% of all Soave.

5 important questions on Veneto - Soave - Wine law and regulations

Soave has 3 main DOCs for dry wines, which are these? What are the differences?

Difference: location and slightly rising minimum alcohol levels.
Three DOCs are:
- DOC Soave
- DOC Soave Classico
- DOCG Soave Superiore

High to very high yields are permitted in both Soave and Soave Classico.

This led to the introduction of Soave Superiore DOCG with its markedly lower maximum yields.
However, leading producers work with yields close to the maximums allowed and still produce concentration and flavour intensity in their wines, showing that Garganega when well grown on favourable sites can produce fully flavoured wines at relatively high yields.

Describe the regulations of Soave DOC

Grapes from the entire Soave region (now three times larger than the original region of 1931)
A minimum of 70% must be Garganega, with up to 30% of Trebbiano di Soave (local synonym for Verdicchio) or Chardonnay.
Of this 30%, a maximum of 5% can be any other authorized variety.
Maximum yield is a substantial 105 hL/ha.
The wine can be sold very young, after 1 December of the year of harvest.
Production is around 80% of all Soave.

What are the general rules for all of the Soave DOCs?

Grape varieties:

A minimum of 70% must be Garganega, with up to 30% of Trebbiano di Soave (local synonym for Verdicchio) or Chardonnay.
Of this 30%, a maximum of 5% can be any other authorized variety.
Yiels max 14t/ha
Min 10,5% abv

Describe the regulations for the DOCG Soave Superiore.

Grapes from same hilly zone as Recioto di Soave,
same rules about varieties as Soave DOC:

A minimum of 70% must be Garganega, with up to 30% of Trebbiano di Soave (local synonym for Verdicchio) or Chardonnay.
Of this 30%, a maximum of 5% can be any other authorized variety.

Lower yield than the two other Soave DOCs at 70 hL/ha.
Wines can only be released on 1 September of the year after harvest. However, production is tiny by comparison with the two above.

How is Recioto di Soave DOCG made? What are its regulations?

Grapes from a delimited hilly zone, this is made from the same blend as Soave but from semi-dried grapes:

A minimum of 70% must be Garganega, with up to 30% of Trebbiano di Soave (local synonym for Verdicchio) or Chardonnay.
Of this 30%, a maximum of 5% can be any other authorized variety.