Consorzio Vini Venezia
Another day, another online tasting, but before you have a go at me and accuse me of taking these things for granted, I must explain that whenever I do one of these, I can't help but feel slightly miffed that I'm not tasting the wines in situ, on a terrace, with views that make you sigh, and who wouldn't feel like that as they look at the brochure for the Consortia Vini Venezia and dream of villas overlooking the Grand Canal as the sip wine whilst wearing the latest Italian fashions, and being happy to overpay for a drink in St Marks Square, because it all becomes the focus of ones memories when you return home and recount your adventures to anybody you can force to listen.
Let's not continue with this, because you know it all. You've seen the images, you've watched the documentaries, and you've certainly dreamt of what you'd do should you visit this region, but Venice is only a very small, but memorable part of the experience of touring this area. Hire a car, ride a train, and take yourself further inland until you are travelling through the gates of one of the regions many producers and sampling wines that can surprise and make you wonder how it took you so long to discover them.
Like a lot of Italy they've been making wine for centuries, in the case of the inlands of the former Venetian Republic it's been going on since the Romans first introduced wine to the area, but it was under the Venetian Republic, between the 13th and 18th century, that the role of trade routes allowed the place to bath in an affluence I'm not sure it has ever shaken off.
The role of wine really started to come to prominence when Venice turned from the sea and started to realise that there was plenty to treasure in its own backyard, and the merchants of the floating city had a hankering to build villas that they disguised as palaces, and palaces they showed off as tiny fiefdoms to their friends who owned their own fiefdoms and showed off in return.
It was here, where they could rest from the cut and thrust of Venetian politics, or their wives could rest from the cut and thrust of Casanova, and play at being country squires while pondering if they should cultivate a vineyard at the same time. During the 16th century there were roughly about 300 hectares of vines catering for the needs of the thirsty, and the needs of the wealthy to show-off.
The Consortia Vini Venezia was established in 2011 by the wine producers of the Consortia Volontario Tutela Vini DOC Lison-Pramaggiore (Voluntary Consortium fro the Protection of DOC Lison-Pramaggiore Wines) and the Consortia Tutela Vini del Piave DOC (Voluntary Consortium for the Protection of DOC Piave Wines). I'm pleased this happened because it must have been quite a mouthful introducing your company before they all joined forces.
Their mission was to protect and promote wine production to a high level, by using the combined resources at their disposal, and to deal with the various requirements introduced by regularity bodies, and today the consortium represents three areas and five DOC that include Lison D.O.C.G. - Malanotte del Piave D.O.C.G - DOC Lison-Pramaggiore - D.O.C. Piave - DOC Venezia, but enough chit-chat, let's look at what they are pouring.
Manzoni Bianco Venezia DOC 2024 - Tenute Rechsteiner
Nestled in the heart of the renowned DOC Venice area, Rechsteiner Estate offers a truly unique wine experience, blending history, culture, art and fine wine. The winery is located in Piavon di Oderzo, in the province of Treviso, a region celebrated for its Prosecco DOC production.
This wine is intense with a complex nose, balanced minerality, and lots of fruit. I take a sip and it develops and opens up.
There's a aromatic body to this, and in the end the mouthfeel is strong. I'm told that this pairs well with traditional Venetian dishes.
Manzoni Bianco Piace DOC 2023 - Frassinelli Winery
In 2000 Gianluca takes the reins of the Frassinelli business and Renzo continues to follow and care for the vineyards while his daughter Roberta is responsible for the administration, exports and communication.
There's a floral aroma with acacia and elderflower notes, slightly fruity, nectarine and citrus notes, and bread at the end.
On the palate it's dry and pleasantly fruity. Golden apple, nectarine and flint appear, and most enjoyable it is. I'm told that this will pair with sea food, risotto, but why not be adventurous. Then let me know.
Lison Classico DOCG 2022 - Le Carline
The agricultural firm Le Carline of Piccinin is located in the heart of the enological DOC of Lison-Pramaggiore, at the intersection of the provinces of Venice, Treviso and Pordenone. It's a family winery that focuses on wines that are good for the environment, and is also certified vegan.
In the glass there's a pale yellow colour with warm golden hues, but it's the intense bouquet, with marked fruity and floral notes that has got my interest.
There's a typical smooth flavour with lingering tones of almonds.
Lison Classico DOCG 2022 - Villa Bogdano 1880
Villa Bogdano is home to some historic vineyards of great interest to viticulturalists and winemakers, and among these, the 117 vines of Tai are very old and rare, dating back to the end of the 19th century. They were the subject of a meticulous recovery operation and are still in production.
The winery is fortunate to be close to sea, and close to the alps, and this helps provide a freshness that is so much part of the wines.
The wine is a lovely straw colour with hints of vegetation, and this leads you into an array of scents and flavours like pineapple, lemon zest, grapefruit, and stones.
The taste is baked apple meeting tangerine in a marriage that is worth attending, and there's a lot of backbone to this wine that is provided by even more minerality.
It is so interesting to see how Italian white wines are starting to really stand-out with structure and ageing potential, and I would advise you to get along to your local seller, take the time to peruse the shelves, talk to them, and then take a bottle or five home for your own tasting. These wines go beautifully with food, good company, and a spot of sunshine doesn't do any harm proceedings.
Once again the Italians have done it. They've married opulent wines with opulent places that will have you looking how cheap flights are, and if the idea of sipping wine in the streets of Venice doesn't grab you, then get into the nearby Venetian countryside and discover just how much more there is to this area, and if that doesn't hold your attention I don't know what will.
