2024 Zenato Soave Classico Colombara DOC, Veneto

The Zenato family is best known for its celebrated Amarone wines, but their white wines from eastern Veneto are equally impressive. Founded by Sergio Zenato in 1960, the estate has built a reputation for combining regional authenticity with meticulous vineyard management. Today, Alberto and Nadia Zenato continue that legacy, producing wines that showcase the diversity and quality of Veneto's finest vineyard sites. Colombara is one of the estate's flagship white wines, highlighting the elegance and character of Soave Classico.

The Colombara vineyard lies within the historic heart of the Soave Classico zone, where Garganega flourishes on volcanic soils rich in basalt and minerals. These ancient soils, combined with cooling hillside breezes, create ideal conditions for producing wines of freshness, texture and longevity. The 2024 vintage delivered beautifully balanced fruit, allowing the vineyard's distinctive mineral character to shine through.

Pale straw gold with green reflections, the bouquet reveals aromas of white peach, pear and lemon blossom layered with notes of chamomile, almond and wet stone. The palate is refined and beautifully textured, offering flavours of ripe citrus, yellow apple and nectarine supported by a subtle saline edge. Bright acidity provides freshness and energy, while the volcanic soils contribute a distinctive mineral thread that carries through to a long, elegant finish. Hints of almond and citrus peel linger, adding complexity and charm.

This is a superb match for grilled calamari, seafood risotto, spaghetti alle vongole, baked snapper with herbs or a zucchini and ricotta tart. Equally enjoyable as an aperitif, it offers a combination of freshness and sophistication that makes Soave one of Italy's most underrated white wine styles.