Colli di Conegliano DOCG
Italian Pronunciation Guide
A hillside DOCG in the Veneto producing still reds, whites, and prized passito wines from dried grapes, just north of Treviso.
Colli di Conegliano DOCG is a prestigious Veneto appellation elevated from DOC to DOCG in 2011, known for still wines and passito. Situated in the province of Treviso at elevations between 50 and 500 meters, it is distinct from neighboring Prosecco zones. The appellation specializes in both red and white dried-grape dessert wines.
- Elevated to DOCG status in 2011; previously held DOC status since 1993
- Reserved exclusively for still wines; no sparkling Prosecco is produced under this denomination
- Annual production averages around 940 hectoliters, making it one of the smaller Italian DOCGs
- Yields are capped at no greater than 12 tonnes per hectare for most varieties
- Minimum alcohol requirements are 10.5% for whites and 12% for reds
- Viticulture in the Conegliano hills dates to the Paleoveneti in the 1st century BC
- Conegliano is home to Italy's oldest wine school, the Scuola Enologica, founded in 1876
History and Heritage
Viticulture in the Colli di Conegliano stretches back to the Paleoveneti in the 1st century BC, with the Romans further developing the early vineyards. Conegliano's modern wine legacy is anchored by the Scuola Enologica, founded in 1876 and recognized as Italy's oldest and most prestigious wine school. The appellation received DOC status in 1993 and was elevated to DOCG in 2011, a designation that recognizes the quality and distinctiveness of its still wines. The surrounding Prosecco hills earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2019, placing the broader Conegliano landscape among Italy's most celebrated wine landscapes.
- Viticultural roots trace to the Paleoveneti, 1st century BC
- Scuola Enologica di Conegliano founded 1876, Italy's oldest wine school
- DOC status granted 1993; elevated to DOCG in 2011
- Nearby Prosecco hills designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019
Location and Terroir
Colli di Conegliano lies in the province of Treviso, approximately 30 kilometers north of the city of Treviso in the Veneto region. Vineyards occupy hillside sites between 50 and 500 meters above sea level, with the Piave River forming a natural boundary to the west and the Montello and Colli Asolani hills providing additional topographic context. Soils vary across the zone, with morainic deposits of clay, sand, and stones on the slopes and clay and silt in the valley floors, alongside glacial and marine soil types. The climate is temperate and continental, moderated by the Adriatic Sea, with warm and dry summers, mild winters, and consistent breezes that support healthy grape development. The average annual temperature is 12.3°C.
- Elevations range from 50 to 500 meters above sea level
- Morainic, glacial, and marine soils define the hillside terroir
- Average annual temperature of 12.3°C with Adriatic moderation
- Located approximately 30 km north of Treviso city
Grapes and Wine Styles
The appellation permits a wide range of varieties. White wines are produced from Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling Renano, Glera, Verdiso, and Boschera. Red wines draw on Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Marzemino, and the crossing Incrocio Manzoni 2.15. Beyond table wines, Colli di Conegliano is particularly celebrated for its passito styles. The Refrontolo Passito is a red dried-grape wine, while the Torchiato di Fregona is produced from white dried grapes and may be made in either dry or sweet styles. The sub-zones of Refrontolo and Fregona are especially favored for passito production thanks to natural air-drying conditions.
- Permitted whites include Manzoni Bianco, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Glera, and Verdiso
- Permitted reds include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Marzemino
- Refrontolo Passito is a red dried-grape wine; Torchiato di Fregona is white, dry or sweet
- All wines under this DOCG are still; no sparkling wines permitted
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Open Wine Lookup →DOCG Rules and Production
As a DOCG, Colli di Conegliano is subject to strict production regulations. Yields are capped at 12 tonnes per hectare for most grape varieties. Minimum alcohol levels are set at 10.5% for white wines and 12% for red wines. Total annual production remains modest, averaging around 940 hectoliters across the denomination. These constraints reinforce the appellation's identity as a quality-focused zone, distinct from the far larger volumes produced under adjacent Prosecco denominations.
- Maximum yield of 12 tonnes per hectare for most varieties
- Minimum 10.5% alcohol for whites; 12% for reds
- Average annual production approximately 940 hectoliters
- DOCG designation guarantees both controlled origin and quality inspection
White wines from Colli di Conegliano tend toward fresh fruit, floral notes, and balanced acidity, reflecting cool hillside elevations. Reds built on Cabernet and Merlot show structure and dark fruit character. The passito wines, particularly Torchiato di Fregona, offer concentrated dried fruit, honey, and nutty complexity from the air-drying process.
- Collalto Colli di Conegliano Bianco$14-18Reliable estate in the Treviso hills producing clean, fresh whites under the DOCG from Manzoni Bianco and local varieties.Find →
- Vincenzo Toffoli Torchiato di Fregona$25-35Traditional producer of Torchiato di Fregona passito, showcasing dried-grape concentration with local white varieties.Find →
- Carpené Malvolti Colli di Conegliano Rosso$22-30Historic Conegliano house producing structured red blends from Cabernet and Merlot under the DOCG appellation.Find →
- Le Manzane Refrontolo Passito$50-65Focused passito specialist using air-dried red grapes from the Refrontolo sub-zone for complex, concentrated dessert wine.Find →
- Colli di Conegliano was elevated from DOC (1993) to DOCG in 2011 and is reserved strictly for still wines, not sparkling Prosecco
- The denomination includes two distinctive passito sub-types: Refrontolo Passito (red) and Torchiato di Fregona (white, dry or sweet)
- Yields are capped at 12 tonnes per hectare; minimum alcohol is 10.5% for whites and 12% for reds
- The Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, founded 1876, is Italy's oldest wine school and central to the region's identity
- Annual production is approximately 940 hectoliters, one of Italy's smaller DOCG volumes