Soave: Wine, Wineries and What to See in the Walled Verona Town

Soave is a small walled town 23 km east of Verona in the Veneto, surrounded by hillside vineyards producing one of Italy’s most widely exported white wines. The medieval walls and castle are remarkably intact; the town is compact and easy to cover on foot. Combining a cellar visit with a walk around the historic centre makes for a practical half-day from Verona.

Soave DOC Wine

Soave is made predominantly from Garganega grapes (minimum 70% for Soave Superiore DOCG), grown on the hillside vineyards of volcanic basalt and limestone around the town. At its best — particularly from the Classico zone, the original historic production area — Soave is a dry, lemon-yellow white with almond and peach notes, moderate acidity, and a mineral finish. Large-scale production during the 1970s and 1980s diluted quality significantly, but stricter DOCG requirements for Soave Superiore (minimum 70% Garganega, at least 8 months maturation, lower yields) have restored the wine’s reputation. Single-vineyard and family-estate Soave now appears in major international wine guides.

Three Wineries Worth Visiting

Rocca Sveva is the most dramatic to visit: hundreds of metres of cellars excavated into the hillside, cool underground walkways lined with thousands of oak barrels. Tours end with a tasting; the estate shop sells Soave alongside local olive oil and honey.

I Stefanini takes the opposite approach. The Tessari family, who have farmed the land since the 1800s, have combined old-vine tradition with modern temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks — the classic vessel for Soave, which was never traditionally matured in oak. Their wines are gaining recognition in Italian and international guides.

Coffele is situated in the heart of the town itself — one of the oldest wineries in the Classico zone. Their Soave Classico is noted for its balanced acidity and compatibility with fish and risotto dishes. Book visits in advance for all three estates.

The Town

The Castle of Soave dates from around 934 and sits above the town at the top of the hill, connected by intact medieval walls that run down to the plain. Inside the castle: the remains of a 10th-century church, several restored rooms and a small museum tracing the castle’s history. The Palazzo di Giustizia in the town centre and the Palazzo Scaligero are the other notable civic buildings. The local cuisine emphasises risotto (the best Italian risotto rice comes from the Po Valley nearby) and polenta rather than pasta — a reminder that this is the Veneto, not Emilia. Verona is 30 minutes west — the summer opera season at the Arena and the Valpolicella and Amarone wine zone are both within easy reach of Soave.