Discovering the Soave Wine Route
East of Verona, where the plains give way to the hills stretching towards the province of Vicenza, rows of vines alternate with olive trees, cherry orchards, ancient rural hamlets and villages marked by castles and bell towers. At the heart of this landscape lies Soave, enclosed by its medieval walls and overlooked by the castle that dominates the town and the surrounding vineyards. This is where the Soave Wine Route has operated since 1999. The association was created to bring together wineries, local authorities, associations, agritourism businesses, restaurants, accommodation providers, olive mills and local producers. More than a road in the strict sense, it is a territorial network that unfolds along an ideal route of approximately 50 kilometres, crossing 13 municipalities and four valleys: Val di Mezzane, Val d’Illasi, Val Tramigna and Val d’Alpone. Today, it has more than 130 members. From the outset, its mission has been to present Soave not simply as a wine, but as the expression of a landscape, an agricultural culture and a community. Visiting this area therefore means entering wineries and tasting their wines, but also discovering local products, rural hospitality, vineyard trails, Romanesque churches, historic villas, museums and castles.
From Adoption to Harvest: how the project works
Among the projects that best embody this philosophy is “Adopt a Garganega Vine”, which also offers a different way to experience the grape harvest: not simply a day among the vines, but a journey that accompanies wine enthusiasts all the way to harvest time. Launched in 2015, the initiative allows participants to adopt 50 Garganega vines, receiving updates from the vineyard, meeting producers and visiting the winery. The harvest thus becomes the focal point of an experience that begins with the care and pruning of the vines and continues through winemaking and ageing. Participants closely follow the ripening of the grapes and the work that transforms the fruit of the vine into wine, eventually receiving 12 bottles of Soave with personalised labels. It is a tangible reminder not only of the harvest itself, but of an entire growing season.
Beyond the vineyard: activities and experiences
And this year, in September, the “adopters” will gather at one of the five wineries taking part in the project to experience first-hand the grape harvest from the vines they have followed throughout the entire growing season. They will have the opportunity to pick the grapes themselves, experiencing one of the most authentic and meaningful moments of the whole project. The day will then continue with a convivial lunch at one of the wineries belonging to the Soave Wine Route: an opportunity for producers and adopters to meet, share experiences and spend time together, as the story of the local area comes together with the flavors of its cuisine.
“Adopt a Garganega Vine” is the project most closely connected to life in the vineyard, but the Soave Wine Route network also offers a wide variety of activities across the different municipalities within the appellation. The website features winery tastings, food tours, e-bike excursions through hills and vineyards, horse-riding experiences and guided visits. During the harvest season, whose timing varies according to the vintage and which, for Garganega, can continue into October, visitors can observe work in the vineyards and wineries at close quarters, take part in tours and tastings, and meet the producers.
After more than twenty-five years of activity, the Soave Wine Route continues to perform a role that extends beyond tourism promotion alone. It connects businesses and visitors, bringing together wine, hospitality, cuisine, landscape and historical heritage, and transforming a wine-producing area into a destination to be discovered throughout the year.
Photo credits: Soave Wine Route