Italian Wine Adventure #2: Soave (A very underrated white wine, Italian white wine treasure, great options for white wine lovers, Classico designation explained)

Show Notes

Italian Wine Adventure #2: Soave (A very underrated white wine, Italian white wine treasure, great options for white wine lovers, Classico designation explained)  00:00

Hello! And welcome to The Wine Pair Podcast. I’m Joe, your sommelier of reasonably priced wine, and this is my wife and my wine pairing partner in crime, Carmela. And we are The Wine Pair!

Carmela, I just have to say, I am so happy you are back with me again this week. I missed you! We missed you! Last week we told everyone you were on assignment. Was it successful?

Ok, before we get too far into this episode, let’s do a quick orientation for those of you who may be new to the podcast - what we do in each episode is we learn about, taste and review three wines that are reasonably priced - meaning under $20 - and are, or  should be, easy for you to find. Our goal is to have some fun, learn about some new wines you may want to try, maybe laugh a little bit, and expand your wine horizons while taking some of the stuffy and the boring out of wine.

Ok! Carmela, are you ready to go on our next Italian Wine Adventure, even if it’s only in our minds?!? This episode, we are leaving Southern Italy and venturing way, way up to Northern Italy to the Veneto region, which is the area that Venice is - and we are going more specifically to the area around the beautiful city of Verona, to talk about, taste, and review some Soave wines.

(You may ask yourself) Wait, did we say Soave? YES! We did! The wine is spelled S-O-A-V-E, so the word looks like so-ave, but the proper pronunciation is to make is sound like it has a “w” in it: Soave. And, very importantly, it is not Suave - it is not Rico Suave wine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI-LmL2OtT0

Ok, back to this wine called Soave. Carmela, do you remember hearing about Soave as a kid growing up? And do you remember how people thought about it?

Well, the truth is this - starting in the 1960s and lasting for several decades after that - the Italians produced a shitload of Soave, and a lot of it was just not good - boring, soft, bland, what you would call bad wine. And, for a lot of people, this reputation of Soave being a cheap, crappy wine is something that has stuck. Which is really too bad. And, just as bad, the bad reputation of Soave led to it being relegated to the cheap wine section in your local store, or worse yet, not in the wine section at all, and so, because of that, many people have just either never heard of it or seen it or ever tried it.

And that is a mistake! We are big Soave fans, particularly Soave Classico, and today, we’ve got three from the Soave region that we are going to taste.

So, Carmela, I am not sure if you remember this, but there was a lot of tv advertising for a Soave in the US by a winemaker called Bolla in the 70’s and 80’s. We have links to some of the commercials in our show notes, but let’s just be clear that these ads were bad. Maybe we should play one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3FBAt995k

What do you think is the “more than wine in a bottle of Bolla” that they are talking about?

So, this was at the same time there were other bad commercials out for bad Italian wines - remember Chill a Cella https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5MoUTXHXg8?

Or Riunite on Ice? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_onOllDF2GY

For whatever reason, it seems that most of these Italian wines they were advertising, whether white, rose, or red, were always being chilled, and were also pretty crappy. Maybe they felt like the chilling of the wine would hide some of the crappiness. 

Now, Soave IS a wine you should chill, and it is not a crappy wine, and we have three in the fridge that we are chilling right now, so we need to get to talking about these wines and then tasting them  . . . 

But first . . . we have to do our shameless plug, right Carmela? If you like what you are hearing, we would love for you to subscribe to our podcast, and leave us a nice a rating and review so that people who may stumble upon us will tune in to our podcast. 
You can also follow us or reach out to us on Instagram at thewinepairpodcast or contact us on our website thewinepairpodcast.com.

And, as we do every week, we’ll tell you someone we think you should tell about The Wine Pair Podcast, and this week we would like you to tell anyone you know who you think is “suave.” [/swäv/] You know those people. Elegant, sophisticated, charming, sophisticated. Tell them you have this amazing podcast they should listen to!

ARTICLES and LINKS

• https://pix.wine/the-drop/soave-classico-comeback/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk_nhAFWEIg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MBfscJsIFA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yIhydhZWC8
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpa0brzmlI
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55GJQP6Zjpg

Topic: What is Soave, and why should you care?  08:50

Ok, so let’s learn a little bit more about Soave, which again is a wine that we think is very underrated. 

Now, here’s facts - believe it or not, about 50 years ago Soave was the most popular Italian wine in the US. More popular than Chianti, and before anyone knew anything about Prosecco. It was all over the place, but as mentioned earlier, it was also a kind of a cheap white wine that seemed to be well suited for ice cubes. Today, Soave can be hard to find, although if you can find it, it is still likely to be pretty inexpensive - but it is not crappy if you look hard enough. 

Now, I think one of the reasons why we don’t see a lot of Soave around, and this is true of a lot of non-French wine varietals, is because as wine production in the Western United States exploded over the last 30-40 years, US wines were able to outperform many of these imported wines in cost, quality, and availability. As wines, especially in California started to be produced in massive quantities, it was very rare for those wines to be made of varietals other than Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Grigio, and few others like that. As I have stated many times, wine today I believe is very influenced by supply rather than demand. So, because Soave is just not a grape that we have grown in the US, most people in the United States have never even heard of Soave or seen it in their local stores, and if they have, they associate it with that cheap Italian version from 40-50 years ago. 

But Soave is a wine that we really think you should know, and one we think white wine lovers in your life might really like. It could be a fun and interesting wine to bring to a dinner party or when you have people over.

First, Soave, like many Italian, French, and Spanish wines, is named for the region it comes from rather than the grapes it is made from. Soave is again a region that is in the province of Verona - and the town of Verona is one of our favorites in Italy, and one that we spent some time in. The Soave grape growing region and the town is just to the east of the city of Verona (yes, the famous city of Romeo and Juliet), and to the west of Padua and Venice. 

But there is no wine grape called Soave. The wine grape that Soave is mostly made from is called Garganega. Have you ever heard of that grape? No? Well, that is a perfect example of how wine drinking choices in places like the US are heavily influenced by what kinds of grapes are grown and made into wine locally. Because Garganega is a grape that is rarely planted in the US, and actually not planted almost anywhere else in the world, most Americans have no idea what it or Soave is. It is, however, the 6th most widely planted white wine grape in Italy. 

To be considered Soave, the final wine products can be blended with other grapes like Verdicchio, but a Soave wine must be at least 70% Garganega.

Sometimes you see a bottle of wine called Soave Classico - which sounds like what? Maybe a higher quality of wine? In Italy, the designation “Classico” has a very specific meaning. According to a good article I found on the interwebs from thewinecompany.com: The term “Classico” on an Italian label refers to the old, historic, original center of a region, often with a history that traces back to Roman times. It is in these historic vineyards that often the best wines of a region are produced.

You will often find this term Classico on many Italian wines, and if you see it on the bottle, and that bottle has a DOC or DOCG label on it, you know for sure that it comes from this most historic region. For instance, you may have noticed that some Chianti’s are called Chianti Classico - that means, again, that the Chianti wine (which is made from a grape called Sangiovese) is from the Classico region. 

With some wines, the Classico designation can mean the wine is of a higher quality because the region is considered the best for that wine. 

In terms of taste, Soave is considered to be somewhere between Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, with a medium-ish body and good acidity, and when from the Classico region which has volcanic soil it has some briney qualities - so it is supposed to be a good food wine, especially fish and other seafood, and I think a really good wine for white wine lovers who may be looking for something new to try. 

You do not have to memorize all this stuff - we have lots of great articles and links in our show notes. 

ARTICLES

• https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/soave-italian-white-wine/
• https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/how-to-find-great-soave-wine/ 
• https://www.martignetti.com/education/wine/varietals/garganega#:~:text=It%20is%20Italy's%206th%20most,blend%20used%20to%20make%20Gambellara. 
• https://www.thewinecompany.net/understanding-soave-classico/#:~:text=Notice%20how%20dramatically%20flat%20the,of%20the%20town%20of%20Soave. 

Soave Wines We Chose for This Episode 16:44

I am really looking forward to these wines today, Carmela, and I know you are, too. One of the wines we are having today is made from 100% Garganega grapes, and two are blended with other grapes. In addition, two are from the Classico region, and one is not, so I feel like we are going to get a nice broad view of what Soave can taste like. I will also note that two of these wines have been highly rated, and all are, as we require for our podcast, under $20.

The first wine we are going to try is one we have definitely had before and I remember liking. It’s from a winery called Inama, and this is their entry level Soave, made from all Garanega grapes, and is a Soave Classico. The winery describes their wine this way:  “100% Garganega: this variety was introduced in the Classic area 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Vinification in stainless steel tank.Not fruit-driven; mineral and floral notes that cleanse the palate, making it food-friendly with lots of dishes”

So, that’s pretty cool - wine from a region that dates back to Roman times. And, we tend to like white wines that are made in stainless steel rather than oak. And, I will say that when we were in Italy several years ago, we stayed for about a week in Verona, and they have an amazing intact and still used Colosseum in Verona that is frankly just breathtaking. We have lots of great memories from that trip.

The second wine is not from the Classico region and so is just called Soave, and it is made by Villa Cavarena. This wine is a blend of Garagenga and Chardonnay, so this will be a really interesting wine to try. The wine is made by the Allegrini family, which is a very famous wine maker from that region, maybe more well known for their red wines. If you have tried or shopped for Italian wines, it is highly highly likely that you have run into their wines - both Valpolicella and Amarone - two wines that we will explore in future Italian wine adventures! The Soave region that is not Classico is quite big, and from what I understand can have pretty varying quality of product, so we’ll see.

The last one we are going to try is from a producer called Pieropan. Their Soave, which is a Soave Classico, has gotten a ton of really strong reviews. In fact, the 2020 Pieropan Soave Classico was given Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice” designation. 

This is also their entry level Soave Classico, and is a blend of Garganega and another grape called Trebbiano di Soave. The vines it is made from are as old as 60 years, and their wines are aged in glass-lined cement tanks until they are bottled. I am really excited to try this wine - it is not one we have had before.

So, again, this will be a great adventure to taste these Soave wines and see how different they may be from each other, and what we think of them. 

Ok, enough with this jibber jabber - I think it’s time to drink some wine!

ARTICLES

• https://www.inama.wine/en/bottiglie/vin-soave/ 
• https://www.pieropan.it/en/wines/soave-classico 
• https://blog.suvie.com/a-beginners-guide-to-soave-wine/

Soave wine pairing tasting and review 21:29

Wine: Inama Vin Soave, Soave Classico (their entry level wine) (Click here to buy this wine. NOTE: this link leads to a different vintage. Affiliate link)
Region: Italy, Veneto
Producer: Inama
Year: 2020
Price: $14.49
Retailer: Total Wine
Alcohol: 12%
Grapes: Gargenega
Professional Rating: JS 92

What we tasted and smelled in this Soave: Citrus, pear, rock, honey, Perugina Spicchi candy, grapefruit, pith, bitter on the end. Dry, fresh, not fruit forward. Mellow.
Food to pair with this Soave: Fish, fried fish, charcuterie, cheese board, shellfish, linguine and clams, spicy food.

As a reminder on our rating scale, we rate on a scale of 1-10, where 7 and above means that we would buy it, and 4 and below means that we are likely to pour it down the sink, and in-between we are likely to drink it and finish it, but we are probably not going to buy it.

Rating:
Joe: 8/10
Carmela: 8/10


Wine: Villa Cavarena Soave (not Classico)
Region: Italy, Veneto
Producer: Allegrini (also make Valpolicella, Amarone, etc.)
Year: 2020
Price: $14.99
Retailer: Total Wine
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grapes: 80% Garganega, 20% Chardonnay

What we tasted and smelled in this Soave: Apple, apple pie or apple cobbler, red delicious, granny smith, spice, wood, vanilla, sweetness, citrus, bitter at the end. Sweeter smelling. A little more richness and mouthfeel from the Chardonnay.
Food to pair with this Soave: Could be good with Asian noodle dish, stir-fried vegetables, should be paired with food.

Rating:
Joe: 6/10
Carmela: 6 /10

Wine: Pieropan Soave Classico
Region: Italy, Veneto
Producer: Pieropan winery
Year: 2020
Price: $18.99
Retailer: Total Wine
Alcohol: 12%
Grapes: Garganega 85%, Trebbiano di Soave 15%
Professional Rating: WE 94, JS 92, WS 91

What we tasted and smelled in this Soave: Less bouquet. Lemon, salt water, plain seltzer water, peach, stone fruit, flowers, effervescence, citrus, light, soft, acidic, smooth, very dry, elegant,
Food to pair with this Soave: Kind of a delicate wine. Mild cheeses. Fried fish. Spicy foods, curry. Veal schnitzel.

Rating:
Joe: 8/10
Carmela: 9/10


Which one of these are you finishing tonight?
Carmela: Pieropan
Joe: Inama


Taste profiles expected from Soave:  42:36

• Soave taste profile
  • Peach, honeydew melon, tangerine, marjoram or other green herbs, saline, citrus, orange zest, marmalade, fennel, lemon, honey, nuts. 
  • Review of Pieropan from Wine Enthusiast: “Aromas of citrus, wet stone and a delicate whiff of hawthorn waft out of the glass. On the dry, delicious palate, bright acidity accompanies white peach, grapefruit and a saline note before finishing on a hint of white almond”
  • Pieropan review from Wine Spectator: “A lithe and racy white, with lively flavors of Asian pear and melon punctuated by lime blossom and blood orange zest accents. This is bright and graceful, with more fruit and a salty mineral layer on the finish”
  • Interesting that both of these reviews are for the same wine. They sound different!

Foods that are paired with Soave:
White pizza, pasta carbonara, penne alla vodka, porchetta, scallops or other shellfish, pasta primavera, veal schnitzel or cutlets, pasta or gnocchi with creamy sauces (like alfredo).


Outro and how to find The Wine Pair Podcast 45:52

As always, thank you so very much for listening to us, The Wine Pair, and you know, while you’re thinking about it, we think you should subscribe and give us a nice rating! 

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Thanks for listening to the Wine Pair podcast, and we will see you next time. And, as we say, life is short, so stop drinking shitty wine