Zoning of the Veneto region areas with Denomination of origin

To characterize in depth the enological productions according to the origin territories and to provide modern tools for the qualitative raising of the assorted typologies of wine produced, Veneto Agricoltura (the regional agency for the agriculture, forestry and food industry development), the Regional Government of Veneto (north-eastern Italy) and various Consortia of Producers have undertaken since 2002 a systematic classification of the viticultural territories by agro-ecological zoning to achieve a strategic project aimed to set Veneto as the first Italian region to have completed in a systematic and scientifically rigorous way the zoning of most of its Denomination of Origin areas. In denominations such as Bardolino (VR), Breganze (VI), Colli Berici (VI) and Lison-Pramaggiore (VE) the program of study has come to an end with the year 2006. In other areas the jobs foresee a further year of investigation as for Arcole (VR), Lessini Durello (VR-VI) and Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene (TV), while for the consortia of Bianco di Custoza (VR), Montello e Colli Asolani (TV), Terradeiforti (VR) and Valpolicella (VR) the studies of characterization will finish in 2008. For the denomination Soave (VR) a study is deepening the results of a previously concluded zoning project including Colli Euganei (PD) area. The first results underline the complexity of the viticultural models of the Veneto region, with a very wide and diversified ampelographic base both for the international and autochthonous varieties, and with territories that range from the lake and alluvial plains to the high hills. This complex pattern has to be interpreted to provide technical indications to the operators of the whole viticultural sector.