Region: Veneto

Zone:

Colli Euganei DOC

Basically, the Padova province is rather flat, as it lies on the Pò plain, but right in the middle of this great plain, completely isolated, a collection of "cones" sticks up out of the ground. The cones are mountains of volcanic origin and, since Roman times, these beautiful and dramatic hills located between the Brenta and Adige rivers, south of Padova and 31 miles west of Venezia, have been known for their good wine.

Many poets have heralded their quality, and this is undoubtedly due to the ideal growing conditions in the area. In the 1400s, the Italian poet, Francesco Petrarch, spoke of ”the wine's fire", which likely refers to the power that the volcanic soil, with its high limestone and mineral content, adds to the grapes. The limestone-enriched soil is best for white wines, and the volcanic soil is best for red. Petrarch was so taken with the area that he purchased a small home in the mountains in Arquà in 1373.

In recent times, Colli Euganei's wines have become significantly smoother than they were in Roman times, and the locals are especially enthusiastic about the sparkling wines. The dessert wine Fior d’Arancio is a bit of a find, and there's also a Passito.

Today, Colli Euganei is a protected, regional park, but there's still thermic activity underground, and several cities offer fashionable hotels with thermal baths, hot springs, warm mud, etc. Yet there's also plenty of opportunities for a secluded stay in the beautiful hills, where there are plenty of hiking trails to keep visitors occupied.