We visited the Coffele Winery, located in a 17th century building in the center of beautiful Soave, for a wine tasting Sunday afternoon. We booked in advance via email. I sent a note last minute on Friday, inquiring about a tasting the same weekend, and was so excited to get their quick response! We enjoyed the "extra" tasting, lead by Sylvia -- 6 of their amazing wines (two bubblies, two whites, two reds) with a delicious mix of salami and cheese with bread and their olive oil. Oh! That olive oil. We would have bought gallons and gallons of it but alas, they were sold out for the season. We took home 4 bottles of wine instead. All of the wine plus our tasting fees set us back just €80. Deal of the century! That same haul in California would have easily cost $300 plus. I'm so excited that we live just half an hour away from Coffele and the charming town of Soave. I envision many visits in our future. If you're lucky enough to be in the area, be sure to plan a visit to Soave. Check out the castle (just €7 admission with sweeping views) and then head down the hill for a tasting at Coffele! read more

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Soave! A small town between Verona and Vicenza is Soave. It is a very important wine producing area in northern Italy focusing on incredible white wines and of course the magnificent Valpolicella variants as well. Coffele is a family owned wine producer that is a must visit in this region. Being only about 40 minutes from our house, this is a frequent stop for us as we bring just about all of our guests here. Be sure to make an appointment for a tasting. Pick the one with salami and cheese too, it makes everything better. To the wine, you start with their brut, wonderful sparing wine aged twice as long as Prosecco so smaller bubbles mean a smoother feel and taste. You will taste 2-3 whites as well, all very drinkable and wonderful first course wines, I don't love white in general but these are great! Our favorite of their wines a Bordeaux blend named Nuj. Fabulous wine, mid level priced, a wine you can age for 20+ years under 20€. Who are we kidding though, this wine comes home and gets opened. Shoutout out to Elizabeth our recent host, she was very knowledgeable and enjoyable. She told us Soave Classico white wine was the first white exported to America in 1961! read more