2023 Pieropan Soave Classico Calvarino DOC, Veneto

Pieropan Calvarino Soave Classico is a benchmark expression of Garganega, crafted from one of the oldest and most revered vineyards in the Soave Classico zone. First produced in 1971, Calvarino is the estate’s original single-vineyard wine, sourced from steep, terraced slopes with basaltic volcanic soils that give the wine its distinctive tension, minerality and length. It’s a pure, focused Soave that speaks clearly of place and vintage, made without oak to preserve its precision and clarity.

The vineyard, located in the heart of the Soave Classico zone, is planted to Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave — both traditional varieties. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in glass-lined cement tanks, followed by ageing on fine lees for around 12 months before bottling. The style is about restraint and energy, offering a cooler, more linear counterpoint to the richer La Rocca.

In the glass, Calvarino opens with aromas of white flowers, citrus peel, green apple, almond and wet stone. The palate is taut and elegant, with lemon, pear, chamomile and saline minerality running through a long, mouthwatering finish. There’s no flash here — just purity, structure and quiet depth.

Food pairing: ideal with grilled prawns, fish crudo, lemon risotto, zucchini fritters, or goat cheese with olive oil and herbs. Also excellent with vegetable-based pasta dishes or grilled white meats.

Cellar potential: beautiful now for its freshness, but capable of ageing 8 to 12 years, gaining notes of dried herbs, beeswax and smoky stone.