This wine region, little known outside of the Veneto region, lies in the southeast of the province of Padua and the south of the province of Venice. Established in 2004, this DOC recognizes the role the Benedictine monks played in the social and economic development of this area.
This territory lies between the rivers Brenta and Adige and the Adriatic, an alluvial plain subject to periods of severe flooding. From the 12th century, the Benedictine monks have made their home in this plain, putting huge amounts of effort into reclaiming these wetlands. While also battling wars, malaria outbreaks, and famine, they managed to build canals and drainage systems to create Corti. A corte was the heart of their reclamation effort, and would contain the quarters where the friars lived, as well as houses for the farm laborers. These corti became the social, economic and administrative centers for these large estates for almost 1000 years. The monks were the leaders of the efforts to prepare the land here for cultivation. The wines produced on the lands reclaimed in this area became a major commodity, exchanged with the nearby towns of Padua and Venice, and through the Venetian port, cities across the Adriatic.
Cultivation of wines in this fairly damp region requires a great deal of local expertise. But local winegrowers have had success with both indigenous grapes as well as (relatively) newly introduced international varietals. Historically, varietals such as Raboso, Refosco, Tocai and Moscato giallo have been cultivated here, and today wine-growers also produce what international varietals that thrive in the excellent local climate and soil conditions: Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco. Most wines in this DOC are best served young, when then exhibit fresh floral notes; others are better left to develop greater complexity with a bit of aging.
White wines included in the D.O.C. are:
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Bianco
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Chardonnay (also sparkling and spumante)
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Pinot bianco
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Pinot grigio
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Sauvignon
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Tai
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Moscato spumante
Corti Benedettine del Padovano passito from Moscato giallo
Red wines of the D.O.C. are:
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Rosso
Corti Benedettine del Padovano rosato (rosé)
Corti Benedettine del Padovano novello
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Cabernet
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Cabernet riserva
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Cabernet Sauvignon
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Merlot
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Raboso
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Raboso riserva
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Raboso passito
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Refosco dal peduncolo rosso
Corti Benedettine del Padovano Refosco dal peduncolo rosso riserva
