The Territory

The extraordinary succession of parallel ranges of steeply sloping hills which extend from East to West is the result of the millenary geological history of this territory with an innate vocation for viticulture. Man’s labour has moulded the terrain since ancient times, but it was formed by the great forces of Nature: the raising up of the marine and lake beds, which were then remodelled by the dolomitic glaciers which covered them with sediment.

We are between the sea and the Alpine foothills – Venice is 50 kms distant and the Dolomites are about 100kms: where the glaciers passed the soil is deep, constituted of rock, sand and a lot of clay; where the original sea beds remain the soil is more shallow with better drainage, composed mainly of marl and clay.

The effect of the ancient glaciers is more evident in the hills of Valdobbiadene, which are steeper with a totally southern exposition. The different combinations of exposition, altitude and soil render each micro zone unique: thus giving birth to the unmistakeable characteristics of wines such as Rive and Cartizze.

The climate is temperate, the grapes dry rapidly after the frequent summer downpours due to constant ventilation, the southern exposition and the altitude of the hills ( between 100 and 500m ) guarantee a good range of temperatures thus enhancing the luxuriant development of aromas.

Valdobbiadene DOCG is produced from the Glera varietal which has found its ideal environment here for more than 3 centuries: this vine loves well watered soil, but not stagnation so it finds an ally in the steep slopes, and together with the labour of man over the centuries it has moulded the landscape following the natural contours of the hills, along steep and craggy slopes which require daily labourious attention such to be defined “heroic”.