LLS Portfolio Book

Suavia

It probably would never occur to the Tessari Family to concentrate on anything other than Soave and its two native white grapes-Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave. The name Suavia harkens back to the pre-modern day references to Soave. The Svevia—later Suavia—were a Germanic tribe that settled in this part of northeastern Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Vineyards have been in the Tessari hands since the late 1800’s, but it wasnt until the early 1980’s that the family redefined what growing quality grapes could be-tying clonal selection to site-specific areas, lowering Garganega’s prodigious yields, and making the wines in tune with the terroir. Rigorous clonal research into the two white varieties has resulted in mono-varietal examples of each, both grown on pure extrusive basaltic (black volcanic) soil; Monte Carbonare (Garganega) and Massifitti (Trebbiano di Soave). Soave Classico DOC Suavia Soave Classico is composed of 100% Garganega grapes harvested from the Tessari family’s 12 hectare estate located in the historic heart of the Soave appellation. Suavia’s Soave Classico is vinified only in stainless steel tanks with several months’ lees contact before bottling. The resulting wine has a clarity of expression and regional typicity that speaks to the Tessari family’s philosophy of careful selection, low yields and incredible attention to detail in the winemaking process.

“Monte Carbonare” Soave Classico DOC Monte Carbonare is the name of the hill upon which the vineyard that sources this wine is situated. The word Carbonare refers to coal and is used to describe this location because the volcanic soils here are black as coal. Produced from 100% Garganega and exposed only to stainless steel in order to preserve freshness, the Tessari family describes this wine as “earth in a glass”—a pure expression of their volcanic terroir.

“Massifitti” Bianco Veronese IGT Fittà is the name of the ancient village where Suavia is based. It derives from the Latin word, “fictus,” meaning, “driven-in,” which refers to the masses of columnar basalt that are naturally found in the area and appear to have been driven into the ground. The name, Massifitti, translates roughly as, “embedded masses,” and pays tribute to this aspect of the local area. 100% Trebbiano di Soave, Massifitti is fermented in stainless steel.

WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY

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