Soave Wine 101: History, Made, Characteristics, Styles, Serving

What is Soave wine?Today, we will answer this question and get to know the Soave wine in detail!

Italy has many great wines, and the Soave is one of those. You might not have heard of it before as it is not as popular as the Barolo, Brunello, or Barbera.

However, it is a wine that any Italian wine lover ought to know! With that, let us not dilly-dally. Let us get to know the Soave wine right now!

An Overview of the Soave Wine

First thing, first. The Soave is not a single wine. Instead, it refers to a wine group. We will discuss more on this matter in the following portions. However, for now, let us take a general look at the Soave wine.

Characteristics	Soave
Type	White
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	Low to High
Tannins	Low to Medium
Alcohol	Medium
Body	Light
Notes	Oranges and Melons

Generally, the Soave wine appears to have a yellow hue, but it is a white wine. It is typically dry, but its acidity can range from low to high.

On the other hand, it can have low to medium tannins and medium alcohol. Finally, when it comes to notes, oranges and melons are the most notable.

Brief History of the Soave Wine

Before getting up close and personal with this wine, let us briefly discuss its history.

Today, this wine might not be one of the popular ones. However, there was a point when it was one of the most sought-after wines.

This wine slowly but surely climbed the ladders after the end of World War II. However, it was short-lived fame. By the end of the century, as new wines came out, demand for this wine declined.

Today, the Soave might no longer be one of the crowd favorites. However, it is still a wine that white wine lovers ought to try out.

What Is the Soave Grape?

As you might already know, some wines get their name after the grape variety used for them. On the other hand, some wines get their names from the region that produced them. Now, the Soave wine falls under the latter.

Soave is a comune in Veneto, Italy. In other words, there is no Soave grape variety. Instead, the grape used for the Soave wine is the Garganega. A late-ripening small white grape variety with thick and complexly-colored skin.

The Soave wine must be mostly Garganega grape. However, it can also have other approved grapes like Chardonnay, Trebbiano di Soave, and Pinot Blanc.

How Do They Make Soave Wine?

As the Soave wine is classified, there are many rules and requirements for a wine to be a Soave wine. For example, as we have said above, this wine must mostly use Garganega grapes. That is, at least 70% of it must be Garganega grape, with the remaining 30% made up of the other approved grapes.

On the other hand, despite being a classified wine, some parts of the process are not strictly regulated. For one, rules are not that strict with aging containers. A winemaker can use a stainless steel tank or an oak barrel, depending on the style.

What Are the Characteristics of the Soave Wine?

We have discussed the Soave wine’s history, its grapes, and the process of making it. Here, let us get up close and personal with this wine.

Type

As we have said above, it is generally a white wine. However, there is also a Soave sparkling wine that fans of fresh or fizzy wines will likely enjoy.

Sweetness

Generally, the Soave wine is a dry one. However, you need not fear if you are not a fan of such. There are sweet Soave wines too.

Acidity

There is a Soave wine that can satisfy you whether you like your wine having low or high levels of acidity.

Tannins

Like with the acidity level, the levels of tannins of the Soave wine range. However, being a light wine, you can expect it to be friendly.

Alcohol

The alcohol levels of this wine can be confusing. For one, being a classified wine, there are certain alcohol levels it follows. Generally, that is around 11% to 12% ABV. On the other hand, many well-known producers forgo the classification to lower the levels of alcohol.

Body

The Soave is, generally, a light-bodied wine. However, it still packs a bit of a punch.

Notes

Finally, we come to the notes. As we have said above, the most notable ones are oranges and melons. However, that is not all. As you might already know, almost all wines present a complex set of flavors and aromas. Here are some other notes of the Soave:

• Honey
• Honeydew
• Lemon
• Peach
• Salt

These are only some of the notes you can expect, though. With different types and bottles, you can anticipate that each one would have different notable notes. With that, let us talk about the types of Soave wines next.

What Are the Types of Soave Wine?

As we have said above, the Soave wine is not a single wine. Instead, it refers to a wine group. Here are some types you might want know:

Type	Brief Description
Soave	Known for its tartness and affordability.
Soave Spumante	Known for being the sparkling Soave wine.
Soave Colli Scaligeri	The floral notes of this one is one of its most notable characteristics.
Soave Classico	This one is best known for terroir expression. Hence, its complexity.
Recioto di Soave	This one is known for being the sweet Soave wine.

Tips When Buying Soave Wine

With all that we have discussed, you might now be itching to get a bottle of Soave wine. Well, let us discuss a few tips before you do so!

How Much Does the Soave Wine Cost?

As you might already know, wines come not only in various shapes and sizes. They also come with different price tags.

At times, the price tag can be an indicator if a bottle is of quality or not. In other words, sometimes, there is a direct correlation between the price and the quality of a bottle. However, one could say that this rule does not apply to the Soave.

With the Soave, there is an option to splurge or save. There are undoubtedly Soave wines that come with hefty price tags. However, there are also bottles that only sport a $15 price tag. Either way, you can get good wine.

Soave Wines to Try Out

This wine might not be the most in-demand one today. However, there are still dozens and dozens of bottles of it from which you can take your pick. Here are some you might want to check out if you still do not know what to pick out:

Bottle	Price
Gini Contrada Salvarenza Vecchie Vigne Soave Classico	Approx. $35
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico	Approx. $35
Suavia Monte Carbonare Soave Classico	Approx. $25
Tamellini Le Bine di Costiola Soave Classico	Approx. $20
Tenuta Sant’Antonio Monte Ceriani Soave	Approx. $15

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

It is possible none of the Soave wines we listed tickled your fancy. On the other hand, your local shop might not have any of them. In that case, again and again, we suggest you do not hesitate to ask the sommelier. These guys (and gals) can likely help find the right Soave wine for you, whatever the occasion may be!

How to Serve Soave Wine?

When it comes to the Soave wine, aging is almost always ideal. However, if you cannot wait to get a taste of this wine, there are also bottles you can enjoy young.

As the Soave is a white wine, decanting is not a necessity. However, sometimes, decanting is more of a preferential step. Feel free to decant if you feel your bottle needs it.

On the other hand, chilling the Soave before serving is ideal. Generally, you want it at around 43° to 57° F. In other words. 6° to 14° C.

As we have discussed above, there are many types of Soave wine. With that, you can find a bottle that could be enjoyed alone or with some snacks or dishes. Now, if you plan on enjoying a bottle with a tasty meal, let us help you with that.

What Food Goes with the Soave Wine?

This wine goes with an array of food. However, it is known to pair with seafood best.

Still, as we have discussed, there are many kinds of Soave wine. With that, you do not have to worry. There is likely a Soave wine that can pair with an appetizer, an entrée, or even a dessert.

Final Words

Today, we got to know this wine’s history, grapes, winemaking process, characteristics, and so much more! We hope we got you well acquainted with it.

Do you have other wines you would like to meet and know? Well, you might want to check out our other talks then! We still have many vines and wines to introduce to you! For now, enjoy your Soave wine! Cheers!