Corti Benedettine del Padovano is a DOC of the Veneto wine region in north-eastern Italy. The title was created in June 2004, to cover the south-eastern area of Veneto's Padova (Padua) province and its various wine styles: red, white and sweet sparkling.
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Bianco is a dry white wine based on the local Tocai Friulano grape (now named Tai to avoid confusion with Hungary's sweet Tokaji), which must account for at least 50% of the final blend. Its red counterpart, Corti Benedettine del Padovano Rosso, is made from a core of Merlot (60–70%) with a minimum 10% addition of local grape Raboso.
The white varietal wines made under the title are Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Tai and the ever-more-marketable Chardonnay. Apart from its minor role in the DOC's red, Raboso may also be made into a varietal wine, as may Merlot, Cabernet (see below) and Friuli's Refosco dal Pedunculo Rosso.
Carmenere, an erstwhile stalwart of the Bordeaux vineyards that was 're-discovered' in Chile in the 1980s, is experiencing something of a renaissance in Italy's north-eastern regions, including Veneto. Mistaken for many years as the similar-looking Cabernet Franc (in Chile it was mistaken for Merlot), Carmenere has now gained a following in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. So far the variety has been limited to a supporting role in the Corti Benedettine del Padovano Cabernet wines (in which Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon play the title role), but given the success of this variety in other parts of the world, it may soon be granted independent status as a varietal wine.
