The northeastern most region of Italy is home to three important wine regions once known as Tre Venezie (Three Venices) because they were all part of the Venetian kingdom. Veneto is third in production after Apulia and Sicily, and the home of some of Italy's more recognized wines. Wines from the area surrounding the town of Verona include the white Soave, the sparkler Processo and the reds Valpolicella, and Bardolino.
Wines labeled Valpolicella are among Italy's lightest and fruitiest, blended from corvina, rondinella and molinara grapes. Passito is the Italian term for dried grape wine, and Valpolicella has two versions. Recioto della Valpolicella is made from raisined grapes in a sweet style. The dry version, one of Italy's most full-bodied wines, is called Amarone.
Bardolino uses the same basic grapes as Valpolicella. It may be light and red, or pink (a style called chiaretto). The white wine Soave, is made from garganega and trebbiano grapes, and although generally dry and still, does exist in sweet (recioto) and spumante styles. Soave is second only to Chianti in volume among DOC wines, and Prosecco is the second most requested sparkler after Asti. The area Breganze, with some vineyards in the foothills of the Alps, and some on the gravelly plain to the north of the city of Vicenze, produces a variety of international and Italian grapes.
