The red wines of Veneto can be broken into two categories: Corvina-based wines made with traditional local varieties, and international wines made with Bordeaux varieties.
Those Bordeaux-variety based wines are part of the history of the area … these are not ‘new kid on the block’ winemakers trying to steal the thunder of Napa Valley. Rather, these grapes have found a great home in the warmer pockets of Veneto and where winemakers have the talent to bring out their best qualities.
Each grape variety below has a Wine Searcher link for more information, plus a link to how it relates to Italian wine and the Veneto in particular.
MERLOT
Wine Searcher: Merlot
Wine Words Wisdom: Italy’s Best Merlot Wines
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Wine Searcher: Cabernet Sauvignon
Italian Wine Connection: Cabernet Sauvignon
CARMÉNERÈ
Wine Searcher: Carménere
Italian Wine Connection: Carménerè
The top producer of Italian Carménerè: Stefano Inama (great story of the history of this grape in this region)
CORVINA
Wine Searcher: Corvina
Wikipedia: Corvina
Wine Traveler: Grape Variety – Corvina
RONDINELLA
Wine Searcher: Rondinella
Wikipedia: Rondinella
MOLINARA
Wine Searcher: Molinara
Fratelli Vogadori: The Molinara Grape (pointing out that use of Molinara was required for the Valpolicella blend until 2003, when it became optional)