Garganega

Soave's main grape; almond, lemon, sometimes underrated.

Garganega is the principal grape of Soave, the Veneto white sourced from volcanic hills east of Verona. The grape ripens late and yields delicately structured wines with lemon, white-flower, and bitter-almond notes. Modern bulk production from valley-floor sites suppressed the wine's reputation through much of the 20th century; volcanic-hillside Soave Classico from quality producers (Pieropan, Inama, Suavia) shows the grape's serious side, with surprising aging potential. Garganega also goes into the dessert Recioto di Soave.