Soave - Wines Vines and a Fabulous Fortress

The Vintner’s Town

Between the two giants of Italian fame and myth, between Verona and Venice, sits the small commune of Soave. Dwarfed in size and in importance by its two monumental and famous neighbours, Soave nevertheless holds its own. From the highway you will see Soave’s historic castle on the hillside. The village gathers around its foot. Surrounded on all sides by vineyards, the village of Soave celebrates the vine with its many cafes and bars, its famed local wine and its presses. The wine ‘Soave’  - named after the village and the region - is a much appreciated dry white Italian wine which once outsold Chianti in popularity.

The castle is unique and impressive. Surrounded by its protective walls, the castle grounds stretch up the terraced hillside to its highest point. Around the walls the entry points are marked by sentry stations and drawbridges which could once be hauled up to create a fortified front to oncoming enemies.  Now they are lowered and welcome of the tourists whose trade helps to support the village.





With three layers of protective surrounds in ever reducing circles, this is one of the most attractive castles in Venezia with its fortifications drawing in closer and closer as they ascend up the hillside. From the village below, the castle can always be seen. It dominates in its presence and is integral to village life.





Even though the tourist traffic is appreciated as valuable, it is the vineyards surrounding the castle and spreading out into the countryside which still provide the lifeblood of Soave. Soave has been a wine growing region since at least the tenth century and likely many centuries before that.  These are indeed ancient vines. With cellars and bars tucked into historic stone-walled buildings or sheltered in courtyards with a mass of vines overhead and tables casually scattered under the dappled sun, it is an idyllic spot.

Still a small village, still a commune you will have to divert to discover, this is a place to share with the locals rather than with the tourists, as you must do when visiting its more glamorous neighbours.

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