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THE VARIOUS TYPES
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene is immediately recognizable thanks to its lively elegance, its pale straw colour, its restrained body and its distinctive fruity and floral nose. It is produced in the hills of the 15 communes lying between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Of special worth among these are the crus, i.e. the famous Superiore di Cartizze and the Rive, made from grapes that come exclusively from a single Commune or hamlet/village therein. Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. is produced in Sparkling, Semi-Sparkling and still versions. The sparkling version is the iconic one for the denomination; appealing and versatile, it has created its own distinctive style of drink. The Sparkling Wine (“Spumante”) is produced in Brut, Extra Dry and Dry versions, depending on the residual sugar contained in the wine: “Brut” is the driest style, “Dry” the sweetest.
CONEGLIANO-VALDOBBIADENE D.O.C.G. PROSECCO SUPERIORE
Brut - This is the most modern and internationally popular version. It displays typical aromas of citrus fruits along with vegetal notes and hints of crusty bread, combined with an attractive liveliness on the palate. It is best served at 7°-9° C, with even quite elaborate fish- or vegetable-based hors d’oeuvres, pasta andr rice dishes featuring seafood, baked fish recipes, or it can be drunk throughout a meal. The residual sugar varies between 0 and 12 g/l.
Extra dry - This is the traditional version. Its colour is bright straw, enlivened by the bubbles of the perlage. It offers rich scents of apples and pears, together with a hint of citrus fruits that gives way to floral tones. On the palate it is mellow yet crisp thanks to its brisk acidity. Excellent as an aperitif, it is also ideal, served at 8°-10° C, with pulse and seafood soups, pasta dishes with delicately-flavoured meat sauces, creamy cheeses and white meats (especially poultry). The residual sugar varies between 12 and 17 g/l.
Dry - This is the least common version, which highlights the wine’s floral fruitiness. It displays a pale straw yellow colour, a delicate, fruity fragrance with hints of citrus fruits, white peaches and green apples, and a tangy, refreshing yet mellow flavour. Serve at 7°–8° C. This is a style that lends itself to very particular food matches, such as dry pastries or spicy foods. The residual sugar varies between 17 and 32 g/l.
THE CRUS: SUPERIORE DI CARTIZZE AND THE RIVE
SUPERIORE DI CARTIZZE is the cru of the denomination and comprises a small area of 106 hectares of vines in the steepest hills of San Pietro di Barbozza, Santo Stefano and Saccol, in the commune of Valdobbiadene. It is the result of the perfect combination between a mild microclimate and very varied terrain, including moraines, sandstones and clays, which allow for rapid drainage of rainfall and, at the same time, a constant water supply, thus permitting the vines to develop in a well-balanced manner. “Cartizze” is a sumptuous sparkling wine. Even its colour suggests greater intensity, which also manifests itself in a complex mix of broad and inviting fragrances and flavours, including apples and pears, apricots and citrus fruits, roses and an appealing note of sugared almonds on the finish. Its taste is pleasantly rounded, with a mellow tanginess to which the fine perlage adds a certain vigour. Usually made in the Dry version, it offers a residual sugar level of up to 32 g/l. It goes well with traditional local cakes, shortbread, fruit tarts and flat cakes. Recently, some producers have introduced a Brut style as well.
IL RIVE, available only in the fully sparkling style, represent the essence of terroir. They are produced, in fact, exclusively from grapes that come from a single Commune or hamlet/village therein, thus highlighting the characteristics that a particular area confers on its wine. The Rive wines allow one, therefore, to get to know the manifold expressions of Conegliano Valdobbiadene in detail. The term “Rive” indicates, in the local dialect, vineyards that are on steep ground, and the aim of the category is to underline the special quality of – and the many differences between – the various sites within the Denomination. For the “Rive” maximum yields are reduced to 13 tonnes per hectare; the grapes must be picked by hand and the vintage must be shown on the label. In the Conegliano Valdobbiadene zone there are 43 Rive, which offer an equal number of distinct territorial expressions.
FRIZZANTE (SEMI-SPARKLING) CONEGLIANO-VALDOBBIADENE D.O.C.G. PROSECCO
This is a more informal and straightforward style. When refermented in bottle (sur lie) it is an authentic representative of a long-standing vignerons’ tradition. In most cases, however, this semi-sparkling style is obtained using the Italian Method. It has a characteristic straw colour. On the nose, its aroma displays rich floral and fruity notes and it offers great freshness on the palate. Serve at 8°C; it is ideal as an aperitif, with hors d’oeuvres and with relatively simple pasta or rice dishes.
TRANQUILLO (STILL) CONEGLIANO-VALDOBBIADENE D.O.C.G. PROSECCO
This is the least-known version. It comes from the most densely planted vineyards with the lowest yields, where the grapes are harvested very ripe. Its colour is a delicate straw yellow and its aromas are of apples, pears, almonds and honey. Serve at 8°–10° C with seafood and other hors d’oeuvres.