Otto Soave Classico

Otto is the youngest wine Graziano Prà makes, and the one he has made the longest. The producer dates its first vintage to 1983, when Graziano and his brother Sergio ran the business together as F.lli Prà. Polaner Selections, his US importer, says the family had never sold its wine in bottle before him. Uncorked in Italy adds that until then the grapes went in bulk to the local cooperative.

The wine is named after Otto, a Border Collie who lived with the family for fifteen years.

The fruit comes from the volcanic hills around Monteforte d'Alpone, at 100 to 250 metres, trained both on the Veronese pergola and on Guyot. The producer puts the vines at 30 to 70 years old, while Polaner says 30 to 60. The grapes are destemmed and pressed softly, fermented cool at 13°C and kept in stainless steel throughout.

Polaner also says the wine rests on its lees in tank for four to five months, and that part of the fruit comes from the more limestone-rich Monte Bisson zone, the hill near Soave that Prà bought in 2016. The wine is certified organic.

The producer calls Otto fresh and ready to drink: the house's youngest wine, named after a dog rather than a hill.