Cantina del Castello - A Tasting to Remember
A bottle of Soave on two oak barrels delightfully welcomes you. Through the brick arches of Porta Verona, you look up to find an array of Soave wine bottles hanging from the ceiling and an antique winepress. The quiet main street is lined with enotecas and wine bars, so stop and enjoy a glass of its famous wine! I stopped into the wine bar Suavis for a glass before exploring the town.
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After contently enjoying a glass of Soave Classico I strolled just a few hundred feet to a sign for Cantina del Castello wine shop. I’ve been to many wineries so I ventured down the cobblestone lane to find a piazza where I saw the grape processing machine and equipment hiding in the building. I later learned it was the owner who happily waved to me and directed me to the tasting room. Upon entering I learned that wine tastings usually require a reservation, but the friendly staff who was working with some wine purchasers, was gracious enough to allow me in to join the tastings that the others were enjoying.
Tasteful Wine and Tasting Room
Cantina del Castello proudly produces an array of wines. Soave dry white wines include not only the Classico, but Brut and Grappa as well. In addition, they produce local reds. Soave white wines are comprised of Garganega grapes with a small blend of Trebbiano di Soavce grapes as permitted under the guidelines of the Italian DOC/G seal. The reds are Valpolicella with a mix of Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella vines. Italian DOC & DOCG guidelines and standards involve different levels of quality, grape varieties and blends, growing regions, yields, and alcohol contents. The DOC/DOCG categories include but are not limited to the Classico, Superiore, & Riserva. You can learn more about Soave wines and DOC/G here.
A Historic and Beautiful Cantina
After the tastings I was delighted to learn I could take a quick tour down into the 10th century cellar! In Italy, a wine cellar is called a ‘cantina’ so knowing that makes it easier to navigate the wine country. It’s these experiences that I live for when I travel. We descended down the old stone staircase that had aged for over 1000 years.
A Stunning Cellar
The cellar was amazing. You could feel the history and you could imagine Renaissance maidens and hands fetching the winter vegetables, wine and beer that must have been stored down here. And… the tunnel that history says leads to the Costello, hence the name Cantina del Costello!
Medieval Meets Modern
Back upstairs we strolled past the clean de-stemming and crushing machine and into a room of fermentation tanks. Cantina del Costello is the only winery that processes all their own grapes within the city walls. This ‘small’ winery produces 80,000 bottles a year. The wine is delicious and the winery is superb. The entire estate is impeccably clean, styled and organized. It was such an unexpected pleasure to be here.
The tastings you can schedule are a WOW! The Cantina del Costello tasting page lists them.
A few of them are listed below but there are many more:
Shades of Soave – a tasting of thier Soave wines.
Verona Experience – a journey between two wine regions Valpolicella and Soave. Tastings of two reds from Valpolicella and one Soave.
Wine and Horse – enjoy the great view of our vineyards on the back of a beautiful horse. the tour includes: visit of the winery and tastings of Soave classico Brut, Soave Classico Castello Recioto di Soave paired with local cheeses.
History and Flavors of Soave – a day discovering Soave, one of the most beautiful Italian villages. A tour of the historic town, traditional lunch in a restaurant, and a winery tour and tasting in the historic cellar.
The ancient olive tree was sprouting its new growth. I had to say farewell, but I’ll be back FOR SURE. I love it here.
The Nitty Gritty ~
Cantina del Costello – Corte Pittora, 5 – 37038 Tel:045 7680093
Costello di Soave – The Soave Castle overlooking the town!
By Car: A4 Motorway – Between Verona and Vicenza. Soave / San Bonifacio exit. Follow the signs to Porta Verona.
By Bus: From Verona on Bus 130 cost – around 4 Euros www.atv.verona.it
By Train: www.trenitalia.it San Banifacio exit then Bus 130 to Porta Verona.
All on SP39 – the Main Road:
Suavis nobis – Wine bar just inside the Porta Verona.
Bar Tre Garofani – across from Suavis nobis.. Small bar with all drinks, sandwiches, snacks and THEY SELL BUS TICKETS!
Enoteca Del Soave – At the end of the lane to Cantina del Costello. Wine, snacks and sandwiches
Trattoria da Amedeo – On the main street SP39
Enoteca Il Drago – in the 14th Century Palazzo di Giustizia with a fabulous terrace!
Locanda Lo Scudo – Just outside the town walls on the West side near the Porta Vicenza.
Pizzeria Acquario Soave – Just outside the walls across from the Porta Verona.
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