Soave Classico "Danieli" 2021, Fattori

If you're a fan of crisp white wines that still have plenty of character, this Soave is for you. A classic region of white wines in Northern Italy, Soave is made from the Garganega grape, and this one is a true classic itself. The wine leads with fruit—both citrusy and tropical—and finishes with a limestone minerality. It's a versatile wine that could easily function as an aperitivo, an accompaniment to a light appetizer, or even a perfect pairing for some sea urchin pasta!

To achieve the remarkably fresh, mineral driven style of this Soave, Antonio Fattori planted the vineyard at high elevation, where volcanic soils, wind and cooling temperatures enhance the grape’s natural acidity. In the cellar, Fattori parlays techniques he learned in New Zealand and Dijon.

About the Winery

5th generation Antonio Fattori realized early on the potential for Soave and Valpolicella in his estate, located in the volcanic hills in the east of the appellations, and made it his goal to express his pure and unique terroir. Before joining the family estate, Antonio studied in Dijon and New Zealand. He gained conviction about how precise vineyard management allows a light touch in the cellar. He also realized that high elevation was essential to achieving his vision for elegant, world-class wines—a realization which led to years of re-siting his vineyards to the highest areas in the appellations.

His Soave vineyards are in the Ronca UGA, near Ca' Rugate and La Cappucina. The mineral rich, volcanic and basalt soils in this region are poor and well-draining, forcing vine roots to dig deep for nutrients. Fattori sees this as essential to producing fresh, mineral-driven, aromatic Garganega, Soave's predominant grape. The red grapes in his Valpolicella and Amarone come from Antonio's 12 ha "Col de la Bastia" vineyard, named after the medieval fortresses nearby. The vineyard sits between Val d’Alpone and Val d’Illasi, a vine-covered slope flanked by mountain streams, where shale and clay alternate with limestone. Antonio organically farms his vineyards, all within 3 miles from the winery.