Monteforte

Cantina di Monteforte is a wine cooperative founded in 1952 in Monteforte d’Alpone, in the eastern part of the Veneto, close to the border with the province of Vicenza. It was established by local grape growers who wanted to work together to protect their livelihoods and make the most of the area’s vineyards. Today, the cooperative brings together around 600 winegrowing members, with a portfolio rooted in the region’s best-known appellations, particularly Soave and Valpolicella.

The local landscape plays a big part in the wines. Around Monteforte d’Alpone, the hills are dominated by dark volcanic basalt soils, which are particularly well suited to Garganega, the principal grape of Soave. Further west and south, paler limestone-rich soils support the red varieties used in Valpolicella. The combination of varied soils, hillside vineyards and a mild climate gives the cooperative plenty of scope to produce wines with different styles and characters.

The Clivus range covers much of the portfolio, including Soave, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, Valpolicella and Amarone. The Soave wines are based on Garganega, bringing citrus, pear, white flowers and almond, often with a subtle mineral edge. The reds draw on Corvina and Rondinella, with Valpolicella offering bright cherry fruit and a lighter touch, while Ripasso brings more body and richness through a second fermentation on the grape skins left over from Amarone production.

At the richer end of the range, Amarone della Valpolicella is made using partially dried grapes, concentrating their sugars and flavours before fermentation. The result is a fuller, more intense red, with ripe dark fruit, dried cherry, spice and a warming finish. The cooperative also produces traditional sweet wines such as Recioto di Soave, made from dried Garganega grapes, alongside sparkling wines and more contemporary styles.

Cantina di Monteforte combines the resources of a large cooperative with a clear connection to the surrounding vineyards and local grape varieties. Its range makes it possible to explore several sides of eastern Veneto, from crisp, almond-edged Soave to structured Amarone, without straying far from the region’s traditions. For a producer with hundreds of growers behind it, that breadth is part of the appeal.