Soave La Rocca Pieropan 2023

Pieropan’s estate covers 58 hectares of vineyard which are situated on the stony hills of Soave Classico. The Pieropan family has been producing wines in Soave since the 1890s. Indeed, they were the first producer to bottle a wine with the name Soave on the label in the early 1930s. From the 2015 vintage onwards, all Pieropan wines are organically certified.

We visited the estate in 2010 during my wine tours based in Verona.  Hosted by Andrea Pieropan, we visited the beautiful cellars, amid the oak barrels, barriques and Slavonian oak bottes, and were taken past the racks where the grapes destined for their Reciotos de Soave and Amarone de Valpolicella dessicate, up to the roof terrace for the stunning views of the vineyards and town.

Soave has something of an image – bland and innocuous. But certainly not this wine! From one of the very best producers, using Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave (no relation of the Ugni Blanc Trebbiano, this is a synonym for Verdicchio) grapes from the original Classico area (the hills surrounding the town of Soave).  Golden yellow in the glass, with intense, concentrated perfumes that follow through to the palate. On the nose, classic La Rocca aromas of nuts and exotic fruits lead to an elegant and beautifully balanced palate, with notes of spice and a long finish. The long finish has a light mineral edge.

Try this with a butternut squash ravioli or a whole range of lighter dishes.  For me a mild goat’s cheese, such as Teddington Cheese’s Caciattona di Capra al Fiano would be perfect.

International Wine Challenge 2021, Silver