We all know the region of Veneto, Italy’s most prolific wine region, for its Amarone and Valpolicella reds and garganega-based Soave whites, but dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a wealth of jewels outside these historic labels.
One such jewel is Our Wine Choice for this week, the Roeno Riesling Trevenezie Praecipuus 2021, which comes from a family winery at the western end of the region near Lake Garda.
Here, in an area called Terradeiforti – the “land of the forts,” after the series of medieval castles in the region – the Fugatti family, owners of the Roeno winery, have been tending their string of vineyards that run alongside the Adige river for over 50 years.
Praecipuus is a fresh, vibrant white, made and aged for a year in stainless steel, and from the first whiff it’s unmistakably riesling, offering you the typical limey/peachy fruit aromas and even a suggestion of gasoline.
But the palate is a real zinger! The combination of bright acidity, a phenolic texture and a hint of elegant, lime-and-peach-stained sweetness produces what seems to be an endless finish and you can’t wait to raise your glass for another shot.
