Why we produce only
"Valdobbiadene DOCG"
Vines have been grown in the hills between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano for over eight hundred years. A wine’s history, especially if its origins are ancient, is intimately linked not only with the land that produces it, but also with the men and women that have grown up with it. Soil, climate, wine, customs and traditions: these aspects, all together, make up what we refer to as "terroir".
The hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano have been shaped and rendered graceful by man, who has, over the centuries, succeeded in creating an enchanting landscape: they are ethereally beautiful hills, producing exquisitely mellow wines. As recently as 2009, this centuries-old history suffered a major jolt, thanks to a decision based exclusively on financial motives: Prosecco is no longer the vine that – for eight hundred years - has found an ideal habitat in these hills, but has now become a denomination covering nine Provinces in Veneto and Friuli.
These areas are devoid of tradition: here, cultivating vines has not been passed down from generation to generation thanks to the know-how of the elders, but rather has taken on a primarily industrial role. This has created a chaotic situation, where the mere distinction between "Prosecco" (the wine produced in the area created in 2009) and "Prosecco Superiore" (that made in the historic hilly zone between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano) is not sufficient in order to convey a precise identity.
Today “Prosecco” has become a generalized term, with a real risk of making banal and cancelling out the age-old history and winemaking vocation of the hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. For this reason, we believe it is fundamental to begin a new, different type of communication, in which the wine’s territorial identity is extremely clear and unmistakable.
Col Vetoraz has therefore, as from the 2017 vintage, decided to remove the word “Prosecco” from all of its labels and in all its communications media, using just the denomination "Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G" - our wines’ true and unique territorial identity.
Col Vetoraz grows and picks exclusively grapes from the Conegliano Valdobbiadene foothills.
The soils of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene foothills formed in the Tertiary period, in the Miocene.
The coarse calcareous-siliceous soils are ideal to obtain elegance and richness of flavour.
The proximity of the mountain protects the entire belt of foothills from the cold north winds and during the summer helps create an accentuated difference in temperature between day and night, fundamental to bring out the aromas and preserve the acid balance.
This makes it possible to select only those grapes able to express the quality required by the Col Vetoraz standard.
Only hand picking can guarantee undamaged fruit and respect for the plants.
Mechanical picking causes deep wounds, jeopardising the health and strength of the vines.
Col Vetoraz is organised so that the grapes of each vineyard can be vinified separately. The full potential of each individual batch can therefore be optimised, before creating the grand cuvées.
At the end of vinification, after being left to rest for an appropriate length of time, each individual batch is painstakingly assessed. Only those batches expressing the quality required by the Col Vetoraz standard will be used to create the grand cuvées, responsible for guaranteeing the entire production of that vintage for each type of Valdobbiadene DOCG Col Vetoraz.
Col Vetoraz wines are not treated in any way, not even with fining agents. This safeguards the integrity of the aromas and structure of the original fruit, developing a natural roundness and creamy, full-bodied creamy effervescent mouthfeel.
In Col Vetoraz, every single action is aimed at achieving balance, harmony and elegance.
These characteristics together represent the key to pleasantness.
Col Vetoraz produces exclusively Valdobbiadene DOCG and Cartizze DOCG wines, unique expressions of our roots.