This was a bit of fun to put together! Also something a little new for us too. We like to keep thing fresh after all. On to the pack. This month's packs a small selection of white from Italy's Veneto region. Well, technically there is a little bit of Lake Garda love in here too but given you can easily jump in your car from the beautiful city of Verona and splash in the crystal cool waters of the Garda in less than an hour, we are including it anyway.

So, lets kick it off with the lugana since we are already talking about it. Seems like the right place to start. For those that may not know lugana, the grape is native to the region and makes wonderfully crisp and elegant whites. Sometimes simple and a little non-descript but in the hands of pros like Selva Capuzza they have harnessed that crystaline beauty and silken flesh to make one of the benchmarks of the region.

Of course, if we are in the Veneto and we are talking whites, we are talking Soave and we have included three crackers for you from Battistelle, Monte Ronca, and Sandro de Bruno. Each is sourced from some of the best territory of Soave's green hills and volcanic soils so to have all three in each pack is a treat.

And for something a little more interesting we have also included a couple of brilliant trebbiano di Soave. For those that may have heard of the varietal its often associated with innocuous plonk but in Soave we have the real deal, OG, super-fly version. The cherry on top is that Suavia and Balestri Valda are two of its top producers and round out this cracking Venetian white pack.

Le Battistelle is simply one of the Soave Classico’s best producers. They have some of the most incredible hand tended terrace vineyards with vines up to 130 years old. There are records of the Battistelle vineyard going back to 1644. Fantastic volcanic subsoils plus the estate is classified “Viticoltura Eroica” or Heroic Viticulture which appears on the label of the Battistelle cuvee. It stands for the hard work that production of these wines requires.

Owned by Gelmino and Cristina Dal Bosco who after working for larger co-operatives in the region passionately wanted their estate, and started in 2002 under the Le Batistelle label. They own just over 9 hectares (100% Garganega) divided across four small plots all situated in the hills of Brognoligo.

This is a lovely Soave that belies its simple DOC. From the lower lying but mature vineyards close to Monte Calvarina, and still from the rich, fertile volcanic soils of which Sandro is so passionate. Raised only in stainless steel to preserve the garganega's freshness and verve, it nevertheless over-delivers on personality and texture. A beautiful, focussed Soave for every table.

100% Garganega from 50 year old vineyards around the "Colline Vulcaniche" near Monte Calvarina at 100-150m ASL, cold macerated for 18 hours before fermentation in stainless steel, then ageing in stainless steel on fine lees for 6 months (with weekly battonage) before bottling. Screwcap. 

Unmistakably Soave, this has classic lime and grapefruit aromatics, almond skin and fresh green herbs on the nose. The palate is alive with mineral energy and a crunch of acidity. 

The wines of Monte Ronca and Colle Marianna are the creation of local specialist Antonio Fattori, based in the commune of Ronca, in the heart of Garganega country. His family began as Soave producers, and a little over 100 years ago they bought a 12-hectare property on the eastern edge of the Valpolicella denomination, where the vineyards cover the ridge dividing the Alpine Valley and Illasi Valley at elevations of close to 500 metres.

Made from 100% Garganega planted in the basalt vineyards of Monte Calvarino. The fruit was picked at the end of September, crushed and fermented in 85% stainless steel and 15% large format casks. At 450 metres, Garganega can only just reach ripeness, so this is where a small amount of appassimento fruit works well (around 10%) to add flavour and texture while holding its cooler structure. The wine is charmingly floral on the nose, with notes of peach and green almond. On the palate, the wine is textural and juicy with citrus, stone fruit, minerals and a touch of spice. 

We say no to chemicals and grow our vines and olive trees according to the principles of organic viticulture with every agricultural practice being an expression of our deep respect for nature and harmony with our ecosystem. That’s why we started beekeeping with enthusiasm. Our happy bees prove that protecting biodiversity is possible and a duty we take on with pleasure. Laura Rizzotto, Balestri

The quote perfectly sums up Laura’s project. She is the latest custodian of a precious patchwork of organically farmed vineyards and olive groves in the heart of Soave. These culminate with an important holding in the tiny cru of Sengialta (‘Sengio’ in local dialect refers to basalt rock). Soils are dark and volcanic, vineyard exposures are southern and at altitudes ranging from 180 - 300m. 

Laura and her partner Federico concentrate on low yields from Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave, with winemaking inspired by a respect for their precious terroir and heritage. This place gives the peak expression of native grapes Garganega & Trebbiano di Soave (the same DNA as Verdicchio from Le Marche). Laura makes some wonderfully contrasting wines: from ‘Libertate’, which is terracotta amphora raised Trebbiano di Soave, to ‘Vigneto Sengialta’, a cru bottling of old vine Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave aged on lees in 20 hectolitre ‘botti’. Balestri Valda’s wines are alive, textured and pure.

Beeswax, pear pulp, yellow florals set off a sense of richness, abundance and the fecundity of Spring. The palate follows suit hitting initially with a ripe orchard fruit bowl creating texture and richness before the limestone cinches the corset and draw the wine back to the centre. This sense of restraint V abundance is further accentuated by a lovely almond clip on the back end. I can see this with anything from soft cheese to scampi. Gorgeous wine. 

The Suavia winery has captured my attention over the last few years. Run by three sisters and located within Soave Classico, Suavia produces a portfolio of terroir-driven wines that impress for their depth and undeniable elegance. Year after year, I find the Monte Carbonare to be one of the best interpretations of this vineyard. This is also one of the few estates producing a varietal Trebbiano di Soave in the region. The Massifitti is the first wine here that caught my attention. 

Wickedly fresh, the 2020 Trebbiano Massifitti bursts from the glass with a mix of savory herbs, dried flowers, gingery spice and dried peaches. It’s round and soothing, with a salty core of minerality and depths of tart orchard fruits and citrus tones, all guided by brisk acidity. The Massifitti finishes long, leaving a lemony concentration that puckers the cheeks—wonderfully balanced and begging for further cellaring. ERIC GUIDO Vinous 

Selva Capuzza, located at the southern edge of Lago di Garda, is a place of both incredible beauty and history. Lake Garda was a glacial formation and the surrounding area has clay soils with lots of stones and mineral salts. It is one the northernmost regions to have a nearly Mediterranean climate, where lemon trees and olive groves abound.

Selva Capuzza takes its name from ‘Silvae’ (meaning wild place) and the Formetini family have been nurturing and protecting this wild place for over 100 years. They regard this land as a unique eco system and farm sustainably, and then some. They place enormous emphasis on the biodiversity of their land to encourage flora and fauna to flourish and no herbicides have been used since 2010. They were amongst the first wineries to track their Co2 emissions and, in the cantina, power is supplied from certified renewable sources and they only use recycled materials and lightweight bottles.

Turbiana is the regions name for the grape that is the same as Trebbiano di Soave and the Marche’s Verdicchio. This is a classic Lugana in its most traditional interpretation: delicate, floral and fruity with notes of hay, grass, citrus and apple with a crisp, fresh finish.