Recioto di Soave is a sweet white wine made from dried grapes grown in the Soave viticultural zone of Veneto, north-eastern Italy. The DOCG title, which includes the classico version, was granted in 1998. While the vast majority of sweet wines produced in the world are white, in Veneto the reverse is true; Recioto di Soave (and its equivalent from neighboring Gambellara) is much less common than sweet red Recioto della Valpolicella.
Soave is best known as the home of the eponymous dry white wine which rose to fame in the second half of the 20th century. Few wine consumers are aware that this phenomenally successful dry wine has a sweet, golden counterpart, and with good reason. The ease with which dry Soave can be made and sold makes the production of the sweet wines an unattractive economic prospect. Not only does it take more grapes to make a bottle of Recioto di Soave than regular Soave, but the sweet wines also have tighter production restrictions, including a lengthy period of inactivity while the grapes are drying out.
As with all forms of recioto (and amarone), Recioto di Soave is made from grapes which have been dried out for several weeks or even months after harvest. Traditionally this process took place on straw mats (it is considered a 'straw wine') in the warmest part of the house or winery. Today, however, technology enables producers to use steel trays and temperature-controlled rooms to dry their grapes. This not only helps control the development of botrytis, but also accelerates the drying process.
While the more famous, red recioto is made predominantly from Corvina grapes, Recioto di Soave is made from white Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio) grapes. This is the same combination used in dry Soave wines. Neighboring Gambellara also makes its Recioto di Gambellara from Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave, and also allows Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay into the blend.
Recioto di Soave wines produced in Soave's traditional classico viticultural zone are entitled to be labeled as Recioto di Soave Classico.
