Soave Superiore

🇮🇹 Italy

DOCG

DOCG 2001 - Garganega benchmark, volcanic basalt soils, Classico hillside vineyards, age-worthy whites

0 venues 0 trails

Region profile

History

Geographical limits of Soave recognized 1926. DOC status established 1968 - one of Italy's first white wine DOCs. Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation "Soave Superiore" established 2001 for hillside Classico zone wines meeting stricter quality standards. Volcanic soils in Monteforte d'Alpone recognized for exceptional minerality. Pieropan family pioneered single-vineyard Soave (La Rocca, Calvarino). Gini family preserves centenarian Garganega plantings. Roberto Anselmi left DOC 1999 to make unregulated wines. Became benchmark for age-worthy Italian white wines.

Climate
Continental climate with Alpine influence; hillside vineyards around Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone (Classico zone); volcanic basalt soils in eastern Monteforte d'Alpone; decomposed volcanic rock rich in minerals; 7,000ha total Soave area; Classico zone most prestigious hillsides
Signature wines
Soave Superiore Classico DOCG (Garganega 70%+, volcanic basalt terroir, age-worthy 10-20+ years); notable producers: Pieropan (La Rocca, Calvarino single-vineyards), Gini (Contrada Salvarenza Vecchie Vigne centenarian plantings), Anselmi (pre-1999 DOC exit)
What sets it apart
Volcanic basalt decomposed rock soils in Monteforte d'Alpone; Garganega centenarian plantings (100+ year vines); DOCG 2001 for Classico hillside zone; age-worthy 10-20+ years (rare for Italian whites); 10 tonnes/ha yield vs higher DOC; mineral almond citrus profile; benchmark Italian white wine; geographical limits 1926; Pieropan + Gini single-vineyard pioneers; <25% of Soave production is Superiore Classico

Facts

  • 6 million bottles Soave annually (Superiore <25% of production)
  • DOCG 2001 (separate from DOC 1968)
  • 7,000ha total Soave area
  • 13 municipalities
  • 10 tonnes/ha max yield (reduced vs DOC)
  • cannot be sold until April following harvest
  • Classico hillside vineyards Soave + Monteforte d'Alpone
  • volcanic basalt soils eastern zone
  • centenarian plantings (100+ year vines)
  • Garganega 70% minimum
  • geographical limits recognized 1926

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026