Pieropan

Pieropan was founded in 1880 by Dr. Leonildo Pieropan, the town physician of Soave, who left medicine to pursue his passion for wine. The founder's sons Gustavo and Fausto carried on the business, which later passed to Gustavo's only son, Leonildo, universally known as Nino. Nino completed his oenology and viticulture studies at the school of Conegliano and took an active role from 1966 onward, fundamentally transforming the estate's approach. He advocated for lower yields, focus on the best hillside vineyards, later harvests, and the use of indigenous grape varieties exclusively. Nino passed away in April 2018 at the age of 71, leaving the estate to his sons Andrea and Dario, the fourth generation of the family. In 2008, Nino also co-founded FIVI, the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers.

• Founded 1880 by Dr. Leonildo Pieropan; the Calvarino vineyard plot was first purchased by the family in 1901 and remains the historical nucleus of the estate
• Nino (third generation) took the leading role from 1966, introducing new technologies, refocusing on prime hillside vineyards, and pioneering organic farming before the concept was widely understood
• April 2018 marked the passing of Nino at 71; 2018 was both the first harvest for Andrea and Dario without their father and the last vintage made in the family's historic medieval Soave home
• In the 1930s, Pieropan was the first winery to bottle a wine carrying the Soave name on the label, establishing the family's role as foundational figures in the appellation

Nino Pieropan achieved a remarkable series of firsts that redefined what Soave could be. His 1971 Calvarino was the first wine in Italy crafted exclusively from native grapes, Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave, from a single named vineyard, and aged before release. His 1978 La Rocca was the first oaked expression of Garganega ever produced. Under his leadership, Pieropan also pioneered screwcap closures in Soave and was the first producer in the region to convert fully to organic farming. Before these innovations, Italian white wine was widely perceived as simple, fresh, and made for mass consumption; Soave had no tradition of quality single-vineyard production. Nino built the region's fine wine reputation almost from scratch, with Calvarino proving that terroir-driven whites of genuine complexity could emerge from Soave's hillsides.

• Calvarino 1971 = first Italian white single-vineyard wine using only native grapes; La Rocca 1978 = first barrel-aged Garganega expression
• Pieropan was the first winery in Soave to commit to organic farming, achieving certification in 2008; all wines have been certified organic from the 2015 vintage onward
• Nino was also the first in Soave to bottle wines under screwcap, prioritizing freshness and consumer convenience over tradition
• Liberty Wines recognized Calvarino's potential early and successfully introduced it to the UK market, helping build its international reputation

Pieropan farms 40 hectares of prime certified organic hillside vineyards entirely within the Soave Classico zone, with the winery built into a hillside just a few hundred meters from Soave's ancient medieval walls. Soave Classico has two primary soil types, volcanic and clay-calcareous, and Pieropan's two single-vineyard wines showcase both. Calvarino sits on volcanic soils rich in basalt from the Eocene era, at 200 to 300 meters above sea level with a north-west aspect, planted to vines aged 30 to 60 years at a density of 3,000 vines per hectare using the traditional Pergola Veronese system. La Rocca occupies the clay-limestone soils of Monte Rocchetta, just below Soave's medieval castle, at around 150 meters above sea level with a south-west aspect, providing a completely different expression of Garganega. Dario and Andrea take a consistent, fastidious approach in the cellar, adapting harvest timing and vineyard management vintage to vintage to achieve optimal ripeness, while keeping cellar practices stable to express terroir faithfully.

• Calvarino: volcanic basalt soils (Eocene era), 200 to 300 meters ASL, north-west facing, 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano di Soave, aged 12 to 15 months in glass-lined concrete tanks
• La Rocca: clay-limestone soils of marine origin on Monte Rocchetta, approximately 150 meters ASL, south-west facing, 100% Garganega, hand-harvested late (often end of October in two passes), aged approximately 15 months in French oak tonneaux and Slavonian barrels on fine lees
• Soave Classico: 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave, fermented in glass-lined cement tanks, released on its lees in the spring following harvest
• The new Cantina Leonildo Pieropan, opened April 2022, was designed by architect Moreno Zurlo and is largely underground to minimize environmental impact and maintain natural thermal stability in the aging cellars

Pieropan produces three Soave Classico wines, each expressing a distinct register of Garganega's character. The Soave Classico is the youngest and freshest expression, showing classic aromas of white flowers, almond blossom, marzipan, and citrus, with rounded fruit balanced by clean acidity. Calvarino, described by the brothers as more vertical, sapid, and austere, derives its electric minerality from the volcanic basalt soils; it is vinified entirely in glass-lined concrete and rewards medium-term cellaring. La Rocca is the richest and most complex wine in the range, with grapes deliberately harvested supermatura to develop intensity; barrel aging adds weight, spice, and a Burgundian breadth while the 100% Garganega composition maintains freshness and precision. A special multi-vintage project, Calvarino 5, launched at the opening of the new winery in 2022, blending five vintages (2008 through 2012) as a statement of the wine's aging potential.

• Soave Classico: white flowers, almond blossom, marzipan, and citrus on the nose; rounded palate with clean acidity; fermented in glass-lined cement tanks and released in spring
• Calvarino: mineral-driven, vertical, and sapid character with citrus, stone fruit, and saline notes; aged 12 to 15 months in glass-lined concrete; Calvarino 2020 received 93 points from Decanter
• La Rocca: 100% Garganega, richer and more opulent with yellow peach, apricot, honey, and subtle spice from oak; aged approximately 15 months in tonneaux and Slavonian barrels on fine lees; received Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri and 92 points from Wine Spectator
• Calvarino 5 (launched 2022) is a limited-edition multi-vintage blend of five successive harvests, designed to illustrate the extraordinary cellaring potential of Soave Classico

The three wines in the Pieropan range span a wide pairing spectrum. The Soave Classico, fresh and lightly structured, is ideal for everyday drinking alongside lighter dishes. Calvarino's minerality, tension, and savory character make it an outstanding partner for seafood, lighter pasta preparations, and vegetable-forward dishes. La Rocca, the most structured wine in the portfolio, suits richer and more complex preparations: risottos with porcini or truffle, fresh pasta with mushroom sauces, roasted white meats such as veal and chicken, and even spiced dishes. Andrea Pieropan notes that because La Rocca is such a structured wine, it can handle the spice and saffron found in Indian curries and Asian cuisine.

• Soave Classico: spring vegetable risottos, salads, simple seafood, fresh goat's cheese
• Calvarino: grilled fish, seafood pasta, lightly dressed crustaceans, sushi and lighter Asian preparations
• La Rocca: mushroom tagliatelle or risotto, roast veal, chicken stew, stuffed guinea fowl, salmon or scallops with cream sauces
• La Rocca also pairs well with spiced dishes including Indian curries and saffron-based preparations, thanks to its generous structure and oak-derived weight

Pieropan is one of Italy's most consistently decorated white wine producers. The estate has accumulated over 20 Tre Bicchieri awards from Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food and wine guide. La Rocca has earned seven gold medals at the International Wine Challenge, a level of consistency that Liberty Wines, Pieropan's UK importer, describes as rare. Calvarino 2020 was nominated among the best wines of the year by Monty Waldin for Decanter, receiving 93 points. The La Rocca 2021 received a Wine Advocate score of 95 points. Wine Spectator memorialized Nino Pieropan as a traditionalist and an innovator, and with winemaking led by fourth-generation Dario Pieropan, the estate continues to anchor conversations about the finest white wines of Italy.

• Over 20 Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri awards across the range, demonstrating sustained excellence across multiple decades and generations
• La Rocca: seven gold medals at the International Wine Challenge; Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso; 92 points from Wine Spectator; Wine Advocate 95 for the 2021 vintage
• Calvarino 2020: 93 points from Decanter (Monty Waldin), described as mineral, floral, and juicy with exceptional freshness
• Pieropan was one of the first Italian white wine producers to gain recognition in the UK fine wine market in the late 1970s and early 1980s, distributed by Liberty Wines