Prà (Graziano Prà)

The Prà family estate has long roots in the Soave Classico zone of the Veneto, but Graziano Prà transformed it from a bulk-grape supplier into one of Italy's most respected independent estates. Before Graziano took over, grapes were sold to local cooperatives. He began commercial bottling in 1983, and by 1988 had introduced Monte Grande as the estate's first single-vineyard wine, a pioneering move in the region. The estate joined the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (FIVI), reflecting its commitment to independent, artisan winemaking.

• Commercial bottling began in 1983 with the estate's first Soave vintage
• Monte Grande single-vineyard wine first produced in 1988
• La Morandina vineyard in Valpolicella acquired in 2001
• Agriturismo Monte Bisson opened to the public in 2022

Prà farms 48 hectares across two distinct terroirs. The 40 hectares in Soave Classico sit on dark volcanic basalt soils formed from ancient magma, giving the wines their signature mineral character. Monte Grande lies at approximately 500 feet above sea level and even contains a Venetian tower built in the 1400s. The 8 hectares at La Morandina in Valpolicella reach 1,640 feet elevation and sit on calcareous soils of glacial origin, with limestone and surface marl fossils. Cool breezes from the Lessini Mountains provide ventilation throughout and promote slow, even ripening across both zones.

• Soave vineyards on dark volcanic basalt from ancient magma flows
• Valpolicella vineyards on calcareous glacial soils with limestone and marl
• Monte Grande at approximately 500 feet; La Morandina at 1,640 feet
• Temperate climate moderated by cool breezes from the Lessini Mountains

Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave form the backbone of Prà's white wine production under the Soave Classico DOC. For the Monte Grande label, Prà employs on-vine drying (appassimento) to concentrate flavors before vinification, a technique that contributed to the 2000 vintage earning Tre Bicchieri recognition. Red wine production at La Morandina uses Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta, bottled as Valpolicella Superiore DOC. The resulting whites are terroir-driven and mineral-focused with genuine aging potential, while the reds are described as fresh and elegant.

• White wines from Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave under Soave Classico DOC
• On-vine appassimento used for Monte Grande production
• Reds from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta in Valpolicella
• Red wines classified as Valpolicella Superiore DOC

All Prà vineyards are certified organic, and the estate's sustainability commitment extends well beyond the vineyard. A garden-vineyard project incorporates trees, beehives, solar panels, and an electric car charging station. Prà was also a founding member of Gli Svitati, a collective of Italian producers that pioneered screw cap closures in Italy, challenging the dominance of cork in a traditionally conservative wine culture. These choices reflect Graziano Prà's broader philosophy of combining quality-focused viticulture with environmental responsibility.

• All 48 hectares certified organic
• Founding member of Gli Svitati, Italy's screw cap pioneer collective
• Estate features beehives, solar panels, and electric charging infrastructure
• Member of both FIVI and the Vignaioli del Soave association