Corte Adami, Vigna Della Corte Soave Superiore, 2021
Corte Adami, Vigna Della Corte Soave Superiore, 2021
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- White Still
- Garganega
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2030
Soave has spent decades shaking off an unfair reputation built by industrial producers who flooded the market with thin, forgettable white wine. Corte Adami is exactly the kind of small, serious estate that makes the case for the real thing.
Their Vigna Della Corte is a single-vineyard Soave Superiore from old Garganega vines grown on the volcanic hillsides of the Classico zone — and it has nothing in common with that supermarket staple of the same name.
The 2021 is lean and focused, with the mineral backbone that good Garganega from volcanic soils consistently delivers. Think white peach, almond skin, and a chalky, saline quality that keeps you reaching for another glass. This is the kind of wine that pairs brilliantly with a simple plate of seafood and makes you wonder why you ever doubted Soave in the first place.
The 2021 is in a good place right now, with its primary fruit bright and the mineral character well-defined. Over the next two to three years it should gain a little more texture and the almond and stone notes may deepen slightly, adding interest without losing freshness. By around 2028-2029 it will likely be at its most complete, with primary fruit beginning to integrate into something rounder and more honeyed.
What the critics say:
"Fully restrained, as is typical for good Soave, focused on smoky volcanic notes, layered pears and Mirabelle plums. Light-bodied with graceful freshness and a silky, vibrant texture. Delicacy and savoriness in the finish. Drink now."
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale straw with a faint green tinge and good clarity.
NoseDelicate white peach and pear blossom with almond skin and a cool, wet-stone minerality underneath. There is a subtle floral lift — almost chamomile — that keeps it feeling fresh and precise rather than broad.
PalateTaut and focused with medium body and lively, mouthwatering acidity. The fruit is restrained — white peach, green apple — but the saline, volcanic mineral quality gives it real definition and a sense of place that demands attention. Dry and clean through the mid-palate with no rough edges.
FinishPersistent and mineral with a pleasingly bitter almond note that is very much the Garganega signature.
Overall impressionA serious, site-driven Soave that earns its Superiore designation without making any fuss about it.
Food Pairings
Around Verona and the Soave hills, this style of wine is poured alongside risotto all'isolana — a local rice dish made with pork, butter, and cinnamon — where the wine's acidity cuts through the richness beautifully. Freshwater fish from Lake Garda, simply grilled or in a light broth, is another classic match. Baccalà alla vicentina, the slow-cooked salt cod with milk and onions that is practically the region's dish of record, works wonderfully too. Locally, it would also appear at the table with a plate of lardo, soppressa, and Monte Veronese cheese before any main course arrives.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 10-12°C — cold enough to feel refreshing but not so cold that it suppresses the mineral complexity. No need to decant; open and pour. A white Burgundy-style tulip glass with a reasonably generous bowl will let the aromas open without losing the delicate floral lift.
The Vigna Della Corte vineyard sits on basaltic volcanic soils in the Soave Classico hills, which gives the wine its characteristic mineral tension and saline edge — something the flat, alluvial plains outside the Classico zone simply cannot replicate. The altitude and aspect mean cooler nights even in warm vintages, preserving the natural acidity that keeps Garganega lively. Old vines with deep root systems pull complexity from the rock below rather than relying on generous yields.
Soave Superiore DOCG sits above the basic Soave DOC in the hierarchy, requiring lower yields, higher natural alcohol, and a minimum of eight months ageing before release. The Classico subzone — the original medieval hill zone around Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone — is where the volcanic soils give the wine its distinctive minerality and structure. It is worth knowing that much of what is sold as Soave comes from the expanded flatland DOC zone rather than these hillsides, which is why producer and site matter so much here.
The 2021 growing season in Veneto delivered exactly what nervous growers needed after a string of challenging years: textbook conditions that let the vines do their thing without drama. Spring arrived gently, summer stayed warm but not punishing, and crucially, September held dry and sunny through harvest. We find ourselves talking about a vintage where nature simply behaved, allowing winemakers to focus on craft rather than crisis management.
What emerged from those orderly conditions are wines with a lovely sense of balance—Amarone and Valpolicella showing both power and freshness, while Soave displays that mineral backbone we crave without the sometimes aggressive acidity of trickier years. The reds carry good concentration without feeling heavy, and there's an approachability to them that makes this vintage particularly rewarding. Most 2021 Veneto wines are drinking beautifully now, though the finest Amarones will reward patience until 2030 and beyond.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
White peach, almond skin, and a cool mineral quality that comes from the volcanic soils. It is dry, focused, and taut rather than rich or broad — Garganega at its most honest.
Is this the same as supermarket Soave?
In name only. The Vigna Della Corte is a single-vineyard wine from old vines on volcanic hillsides in the Soave Classico zone. The flat-plains Soave that gave the name its troubled reputation is a different thing entirely.
When should I drink this wine?
It is drinking well now and will continue to do so until around 2029 or 2030. There is no pressing reason to wait, but another year or two in the bottle will add a little texture and roundness.
What food should I serve it with?
Seafood is the easy answer — grilled fish, clams, or a simple plate of prawns. It also works well with risotto, light pasta dishes, and soft fresh cheeses. The bitter almond finish makes it a natural match for dishes with a little richness to cut through.
How should I serve it?
Around 10-12°C in a reasonably generous white wine glass. No need to decant — open and pour.
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