Soave Classico is a lean and dry white wine from Veneto Italy featuring notes of peach, melon, pear, saline/minerals and chamomile. Soave Classico pairs best with Roast Chicken, Focaccia, Shellfish, Asparagus, Veal Scaloppini, Cannelloni, Chicken Parmigiana, Risotto, Cauliflower Soup and Pasta Primavera.
Soave Wine Styles
Soave is primarily made from the Garganega grape, however, it may be blended with Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Trebbiano di Soave, or Trebbiano Toscano by as much as 30%. Soave comes in several styles, and the most common style you’ll see on shelves in North America will be Soave Classico, Soave and Soave Superiore.
Soave Classico – This refers to Soave made in the original growing zone, a narrow band of hills that are remnants of ancient volcanoes. Expect notes of honeydew melon, lemon, pear, apples, almond, minerals and herbs. The volcanic soil can give Soave a flinty flavour similar to Chablis, and the wine can be produced with a lighter apple quality or a bolder melon and pear style. Soave Classico accounts for about 25% of all Soave produced.
Soave Colli Scaligeri – Soave made outside the original hillside region of Soave.
Soave DOC – Any Soave wine made outside of the Classico and Colli Scaligeri region, that’s made in a light and zesty style. Many wine enthusiasts claim that the wines produced in this expanded region are mass-produced, mediocre, and cut with filler grapes, rather than being a true representation of what Soave could be. However, there are a small number of producers out there that make interesting wines. The trouble is you’ll have to do a lot of research to figure out who these producers are.
Soave Superiore DOCG – An aged Soave wine (8 months) that uses the best grapes. Expect deeper flavours of honey, baked apple, sugared lemon rind, honey and spice.
Recioto di Soave – A Dessert wine made in a sweeter style and not included with any pairings below unless specified.
Soave Profile
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What Food Goes with Soave Wine?
| Type | Varietal | Food | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Wine | Soave Classico | White Pizza | |
| Dessert Wine | Recioto di Soave (DOCG) | Pandoro di Verona | |
| Dessert Wine | Recioto di Soave (DOCG) | Pan di Spagna alle Albicocche | |
| Dessert Wine | Recioto di Soave Classico Spumante (DOCG) | Panettone | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Butter Chicken | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pasta Carbonara | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Gnocchi in a Creamy Sauce | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pasta Primavera | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Penne alla Vodka | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Porchetta | |
| White Wine | Soave | Chicken Kiev | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Antipasto | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fish | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Red Gazpacho | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Risotto | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fried Foods | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Spinach Salad | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Scallops | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Shellfish | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pasta with Seafood | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Sushi | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Insalata Tricolore | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Cauliflower Soup | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Gnocchi in a Sage & Butter Sauce | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Agnolotti - Pasta | |
| Dessert Wine | Recioto di Soave (DOCG) | Shortbread | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Spaghetti alle Vongole | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fettucine Alfredo | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Chicken | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Prawn Rolls - Goi Cuon | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Nhoam Moan - Chicken Noodle Salad | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pho Ga - Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Banh Chung - Vietnamese Tet Rice Cakes | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Banh Gio - Pork and rice dumpling | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | San Choy Bau Heo - Minced pork on leaves | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Ta Pin Lu - Chrysanthemum Hot Pot | |
| White Wine | Soave Superiore Classico | Baked Pike | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Hkauk Sw? Thouk | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Grilled Haddock with Mustard Sauce | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Focaccia | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Chicken Alfredo | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Artichoke | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Asparagus | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Basil | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Bass | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Carrots | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fontina Cheese | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Mozzarella Cheese | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Cucumber | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Eggs and Egg Based Dishes | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Omelette | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fennel | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Fish and Chips | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Lobster | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pasta with Clam Sauce | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pesto | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Prosciutto | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Shrimp Salad | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Salt Cod | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Seafood | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Dover Sole | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Cream of Mushroom Soup | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Vegetable Soup | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Spinach | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Squid | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Veal | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Veal Scallopini | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Zucchini Blossoms | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Zucchini Blossoms Fried | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pork Tenderloin | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Chicken Parmesan | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Caprese Salad | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Ravioli | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Cedar Plank Salmon | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Pho Bo - Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup | |
| White Wine | Soave Classico | Bluefish |
Cauliflower Soup & Soave Wine Pairing
The heart of Cauliflower Soup tends to be roasted cauliflower pureed, with perhaps some butter, cream or melted cheese added. A lean and crisp Soave won’t interfere with creamy cauliflower flavours, but rather it will impart its refreshing flavours of each, honeydew melon and citrus. Thus, the light and refreshing flavours of a dry Soave keeps things simple, making it an excellent wine pairing with Cauliflower Soup.
Scallops & Soave Classico Wine Pairing
Soave Classico has a minerality that makes it lovely wine pairing with scallops and all other types of shellfish. The wine’s minerality complements the subtle sea breeze flavours found in scallops, while the acidity of Soave further heightens the mild Scallop flavours. Finally, you get smooth and refreshing flavours of melon, pear and honey that brighten up those delicious Scallop flavours.
Veal Scaloppini & Soave Pairing
Veal Scaloppini is a cutlet of veal that have been pounded thin, dipped in flour, and pan-fried. Soave’s lean flavours cut through the crispy fried flavours and help draw out the tender veal meatiness without getting in the way. While Soave won’t complement Veal Scaloppini, the wine’s refreshing flavours of lemon, pear, and apples offer a pleasant contrast.
Chicken Alfredo & Soave Pairing
Soave translates to smooth, and with the creamy texture of Chicken Alfredo, you’ll want a smooth white wine. While light in body, Soave does not interfere with those creamy and indulgent alfredo flavours. Rather it steps aside and imparts a bit of melon, pear, apple and lemon on the finish, along with a bitter almond nuttiness. The nutty finish of Soave compliments the Parmesan Cheese sprinkled on your Chicken Alfredo while the fruitier notes keep your palate refreshed in between bites.
Soave and Soave Classico will pair with a wide variety of other chicken dishes including Lemon Chicken, Butter Chicken, Chicken Kiev, Chicken Pot Pie, and Fried Chicken
Pasta Primavera & Soave Pairing
Pasta Primavera is a sauce composed of fresh spring vegetables such as such as bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, garlic, onions, and broccoli. The sauce is traditionally served over tri-coloured noodles. In recent times, Pasta Primavera has evolved to essentially mean any vegetarian style sauce, however, in either instance, Soave will make for an excellent pairing.
Soave is one of my favourite wine pairing with Pasta Primavera because the white wine is light and zesty and won’t overly complicate the delicious flavours of the sauce. Rather, Soave’s high acidity will electrify all the individual vegetable flavours allowing you to distinguish every one of them in each bite. Soave also has a minerality to it, along with herbal and spice notes that make it versatile with a wide range of vegetables, including the notoriously difficult to pair asparagus.
Finally, the high acidity and peach, citrus and melon flavours of Soave are refreshing against the Primavera sauce. This refreshment factor helps each bite taste fresh, which helps you feel fulfilled sooner and prevents you from overeating.