The Veneto wine region of Italy stretches from the shores of Lake Garda in the west, across to Venice at its south-east corner, and up into the Dolomite mountains and the border with Austria in the north.

With such a huge range of climates, soils, and topographies, it’s easy to see why Veneto has become one of Italy’s most diverse and fascinating wine producing regions, with world-class sparkling wines, elegantly delicate white wines, and powerful red wines all coming from its unique vineyards.

Yet with so many different wines and styles available, it can be difficult to pick-out the truly world-class, most unmissable wines from Veneto.

Fortunately, Jeroboams’ award-winning Italy buying team has done the hard work for you, searching far and wide to uncover the finest family-owned Veneto wineries, which share our ethos of quality and sustainability, bringing the best of their produce to your table.

So without further ado, here are five unmissable wines from Veneto:

Top-Class Prosecco from Valdobbiadene:

2020 Bortolin Angelo Extra Dry Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

With its fine mousse, broad texture and thread of fine acidity, this is Prosecco with real depth, interest and complexity – and it’s not just us who noticed. Decanter rated this Prosecco as the best in their recent feature, calling it “by far the richest example tasted….”

Try if you love the easy-drinking accessibility of Italian sparkling wine but want an indulgent step up from mass-market styles.

Pair with creamy burrata and goat’s cheeses as part of a celebratory Italian aperitivo with friends.

Silky, concentrated Soave Classico:

2019 Soave Classico Perinato, Pigno, Gianni Tessari

The Soave region of Veneto shows huge variation in style and quality. This is top quality Soave Classico, grown in the Valle d’Alpone near Verona by one of the region’s most acclaimed family-run wineries. Each sip of mingling spices and dried fruits with blossom and baked apples will remind why, at its best, Soave is one of the Veneto’s great white wines.

Try if you’re a fan of elegant, delicate whites such as Mâcon and Albariño, where the creaminess of the wine is shot through with a streak of refreshing and moreish minerality.

Pair with spaghetti carbonara, or roasted asparagus served with parmesan shavings.

A modern twist on a Veneto classic:

NV Hey French, IGT Veneto, Pasqua

Soave, but not as you know it – this unique Veneto white wine comes from the eastern-most part of the Soave region, where the hill-side altitude and volcanic basalt soils give wines of great concentration and minerality. In this wine, Pasqua blends four of the best vintages of the previous decade to create a long-lasting, ageworthy white wine with rich skin-contact texture, and chamomile, hazelnut, citrus and tropical fruits, all underpinned by fine structure and acidity.

Try if you’re an adventurous foodie who loves characterful wines that really show off the winemaker’s skill. This unique white might test your palate, but it won’t be bored.

Pair with richly flavoured vegetarian dishes, like a spinach and sweet potato dhal, or an indulgent nut roast served with honey-encrusted roasted root vegetables.

Juicy, moreish Valpolicella Classico:

2019 Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Villa della Torre

From one of Veneto’s most varied white wines to one of the region’s most varied reds – this is a top-quality example and a step up from standard mass-market styles. Deep ruby coloured, with aromas of cherry and raspberry fruit, Villa della Torre’s Valpolicella is very refined, with a smoky note and lovely texture. Even better, it is sustainably produced, with a strong ethos of looking after the region’s biodiversity.

Try if you love the juiciness and red fruits of Cru Beaujolais like Fleurie and Morgon, or the earthy smokiness of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc – and, of course, if you share the winemaker’s sustainability focus.

Pair with red meat dishes like ribeye or slow-roasted lamb shoulder, where the natural fattiness and flavour of the meat will be perfectly balanced by the Valpolicella’s acidity and ripe fruit.

Powerful, long-lived Amarone:

2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Mai Dire Mai, Pasqua

Amarone is one of the world’s great wine experiences, with a traditional process being used to concentrate grape flavours and sugars to give a wonderfully decadent red wine. This ten-year old example is rich and ripe with huge extract and fruit concentration. Full of flavours of black cherry, mocha and spice and drinking beautifully.

Try if you love full-flavoured, long-lived red wines from Ribera del Duero and the new world, but be patient and open at least a couple of hours before drinking to enjoy this at its best.

Pair with the richest, most umami-infused dishes – Osso Bucco or something with an intense truffle infusion would work – and be prepared for the wine to be the star.