GG_N52_FR

TIME AND WOOD ARE IMPORTANT
ALLIES FOR THE WINES PRODUCED
BY BERTANI, BUT REGIONAL
IDENTITY ALWAYS PREVAILS
OVER STYLE
Riserva. Superiore wines cannot be sold until April of the year following the harvest,
and Riserva wines cannot be sold until November, or about a year after the harvest.
The typical vine training system is the Veronese pergola system. Although this system
has been superseded in many new plantings by the guyot espalier system, it is proving
to be interesting in the fight against climate change.
The Soave area embraces thirteen localities spread over four valleys: Val d’Alpone, Val
Tramigna, Val d’Illasi and Val di Mezzane. A further geological and pedological division
can be made between the volcanic hills, calcareous hills, plains of volcanic origin, and
calcareous plains.
Soave is one of the volcanic territories, and the soils are variable: they range from black
soils to red soils richer in iron oxide, from very poor soils to very fertile soils, from
basalts to clays with calcareous outcrops.
Recent territorial zoning has led to the inclusion in the specifications of 33 UGAs
(added geographical units):
Castelcerino, Fittà, Tremenalto, Corte del Durlo, Costalunga, Menini, Castellaro,
Brognoligo, Costeggiola, Campagnola, Sengialta, Colombara, Foscarino, Carbonare,
Rugate, Coste, Monte Grande, Pressoni, Costalta, Casarsa, Pigno, Ponsara, Froscà,
Volpare, Tenda, Croce, Zoppega, Ca’ del Vento, Broia, Paradiso, Monte di Colognola,
Duello, Roncà - Monte Calvarina.
These ‘Crus’ have become a way of showcasing the identity of the vineyards for many
important wineries, including the following.
62 SUMMER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE