Garganega, the white grape of Soave, grown on the hills of the Veneto and made by Anselmi, one of the estates that pulled it out of the ordinary. This is a single-site bottling from the family's own hillside vineyards, and it is a very different animal from the light, neutral Soave that made the grape famous.
- Garganega, the main white grape of the Veneto.
- Veneto IGT, a step outside the Soave DOC rules.
- 2021 vintage, northern Italy.
- 13% alcohol, dry, high acidity.
- Medium body, low tannin.
How it is made
Garganega is a late-ripening grape with thick skins, which is why it holds acidity so well in a warm year. Anselmi picks low yields from hillside sites and keeps the wine away from new oak, so the fruit and the mineral edge stay in front. The IGT label gives more freedom than the Soave DOC, and the estate uses it.
How it tastes
White cherry and apricot at the front, then orange zest and a light floral note, with fresh herbs and ground white pepper behind. There is almond on the finish and a saline thread that runs through it. The acidity is high and the texture is medium, so it reads firm rather than soft.
Good to know
Garganega is one of Italy's oldest documented white grapes, and it is the backbone of Soave. Anselmi has been the estate most associated with pushing the grape beyond the DOC's lighter style, bottling single vineyards and labelling them as IGT instead.
