10 Days in Italy (Part 2)

Following our stay in Florence and Tuscany, my wife and I took the train north to spend our final days in Italy in Venice—with a day trip to the Veneto wine region built in (naturally).

Our small tour group left the city and drove north, with our first stop being at Le Rampe.

We started our stop with a tour of the grounds and some background on the vineyard. Le Rampe planted their vines about 20 years ago, though they had started producing wine from those grapes (100% glera on the vineyard) within the last 7 years and had managed to survive some heavy hail damage in 2023 that the region in general was subjected to because of heavy storms.

Following the tour of the grounds, we settled onto the patio to taste some wines and enjoy some light food.

Vino Bianco col Fondo – €5

Our first wine was the Vino Bianco col Fondo. An Extra Brut wine, “col fondo” means “with the bottom,” meaning the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle and is left undisgorged, creating a cloudy, bone-dry wine.

This particular wine was light and refreshing (welcome on a hot day) with tiny bubbles (it was done in the frizzante style, which means semi-sparkling) and bright flavors of citrus, apple, and white peach. While not technically a Prosecco (because it wasn’t sealed with a cork), it was very quaffable with only 14 g/l of sugar and 11% alcohol/volume—a perfect porch wine, especially at the price. While we were munching on cheeses and cured meats, I think this would pair well with lighter fish.

Torre Zecchei Superiore – €8.50

Our second wine was a Prosecco (DOCG to be specific). A brut Prosecco in the Spumante style (so plenty of bubbles) and also made with 100% Glera grapes. Clear and light in color, with hints of yellow and green, it had aromas of candied green apple that I always associate with Green Apple Jolly Rancher (in a positive way…love those things).

In the mouth the wine had small, but persistant bubbles and flavors of green apple dominated the palate. This one was really good, and at 11.5% alcohol/volume, it was another that you could enjoy several bottles of with friends and family without hating yourself the next day.

Torre Zecchei Superiore Millesimato – €8

Our final wine of the tasting was the Torre Zecchei in the Extra Dry style. A higher sugar level (17 g/l) while still maintaining the lower alcohol level (11% alc/vol) makes this a good wine for cocktails that call for Prosecco (looking at you Aperol Spritz lovers). It certainly wasn’t “sweet” as we think of sweet wines, but was refreshing.

Light straw in color, I got aromas of apple and white peach white flavors of peach and white flowers jumping out at me the most amongst tiny bubbles.

Once we were done with any purchases, it was on to the next stop—Col del Lupo.

A quick tour and background of the grounds (they produce 40,000 bottles annually) lead us to a tasting and some light food.

Notae – €15

The first wine we tried, the 2022 Notae was done in the col fondo style, so it had a cloudy, yellow color. One the nose I got aromas of green apple and pear, while in the mouth the wine was dry, with small bubbles and flavors of white fruit with good acidity. Made from 100% Glera in the frizzante style, it was very sippable, making it good for pairing with cheese platters, fried fish, or sardines (if that’s your thing…it’s definitely my thing).

Brut – €15

Next up was the 2024 Brut, which bordered on being Extra Brut thanks to a low sugar content (6 g/l). Very clear in color with aromas of green apple and hint of yeast, I got flavors of fresh white peach and dry floral pears to go with the small bubbles. A great way to start (or finish) a meal, it would pair well with most fish-based coursese.

Extra Dry – €15

The Extra Dry from Col del Lupo saw an increase in sugar, jumping up to 13 g/l, but don’t let that fool you—the wine was still very dry. Straw yellow with hints of green in the glass, I got soft floral aromas with a touch of citrus fruits. In the mouth the wine was fresh, with notes of pear, a hint of apricot, and a touch of honey that managed to not make it sweet, especially once the touch of salinity on the finish provided some balance.

This is a great wine to share with friends and enjoy with conversation while you eat something light before dinner.

Deligo – €12.50

The final wine of the tasting, and the one with the highest sugar content (22 g/l). Light straw in color, the Deligo had light floral notes on the nose, with a bit of citrus and fruit as it opened up in my hand. In the mouth I got a hint of nuttiness when paired with the biscotti pastry they gave us, along with flavors of peaches and a hint of honey.

This is definitely the wine for the end of the night, whether you’re toasting or want something to pair with dessert pastries, though it would also be a nice foil for a spicy Asian dish as well.

Wrapping up

We had an amazing time at both vineyards, and I hightly recommend stopping at one or both if you’re in the region and looking to taste some local wines. The staff, the views, and the wines were all fantastic, and whether you’re shipping home or just taking some back to your hotel to enjoy while you’re in the city, you’ll find great wines that you’ll be thinking about later.