Monteforche

Monteforche is a small family winery in the volcanic hills of Colli Euganei, southwest of Padua in Veneto. The estate has been in the Soranzo family for generations, but winemaker Alfonso Soranzo took it in a new direction when he left his career as a professional French horn player in 2012 to focus on wine. Working with around five hectares of vineyards alongside his father, Alfonso has built a reputation for organic farming and low-intervention winemaking.

The vineyards sit around the village of Zovon di Vo, where volcanic rock, limestone and ancient marine sediments create a varied patchwork of soils. Alfonso farms without synthetic chemicals, and in the cellar he keeps things simple. Fermentations start with native yeasts, wines are generally matured in concrete vats on their lees, and bottlings are made without fining or filtration. The aim is to let the grapes and the distinctive local geology speak for themselves.

The white wines make good use of local varieties, particularly Garganega and Moscato. Vigneto Carantina is a skin-contact Garganega from older vines, bringing stone fruit, smoke, mineral character and a gentle grip from the time spent on the skins. Cassiara blends Garganega and Moscato, offering a more aromatic expression of the region. These are whites with texture and personality rather than the simple, easy-drinking style often associated with Veneto.

The reds explore both international and local grapes, including Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Carmenère, alongside a blend of older regional varieties. Lo Sfuso di Collina is a lively, rustic red with dark fruit and peppery notes, while the older varieties offer a glimpse of grapes that might otherwise have disappeared from the local landscape. The wines are generally bottled with minimal additions, and some releases are made without added sulphites.

Monteforche is a good example of the natural wine movement at its most grounded. Alfonso is working with his family’s land and local grape varieties, using low-intervention methods without turning the wines into a technical exercise. The results are expressive, often a little wild around the edges, and firmly connected to the volcanic landscape of Colli Euganei.