RABOSO PIAVE – NATIVE TREVISO GRAPE VARIETY
Here at Santomè, we put a great deal of effort into the production of a historical native grape with which the province of Treviso has long been associated: Raboso Piave.
Native grape types are those that are cultivated exclusively within their zone of origin. The typicality of the wines produced derives, therefore, from the type of soil and climatic conditions that characterise their provenance. These factors generate the specific organoleptic features that make native wines unique and unmistakable. As such, they are wines that are bound to specific areas, which are never very geographically extensive.
Italy can boast more than 600 native grape types, of which more than 50 are found in the Veneto region.
These include well-known names such as Glera (used to make Prosecco), Corvina Veronese and Rondinella (which are used to make Amarone), and those that are more “niche” in their appeal, such as Raboso, Incrocio Manzoni and Verduzzo.
Raboso Piave is the only indigenous red grape variety cultivated in the Province of Treviso.
Its origins are believed to pre-date the Roman times. For centuries, thanks to its natural capacity to resist diseases such as peronospera and phylloxera, Raboso has been the most cultivated vine in Treviso.
Raboso Piave is a rustic vine with late-ripening. In fact, the harvest – which is done entirely by hand – takes place between the end of October and beginning of November. In order to obtain a sharp full body Raboso (particularly tannic wine) wine is necessary to ensure an optimal and careful vinification. It’s a wine perfectly adapted to slow maturation in wooden barrels: an aging process that subdues its acidity and brings to life its distinctive bouquet.
Its main feature is the distinctive acidity.
In fact, thanks to this definite acidity, Raboso was in the past the only wine stocked when traveling towards the East by the famous & powerful Republic of Venice – (the Serenissima 697-1797) which for 500 years dominated Mediterranean commerce. Hence the Venetian navigators called it vin de viajo, “wine fit for travelling”, because it was the most resistant to aging and long journey.
Our Raboso Piave
RABOSO DOC PIAVE
CARBONCINE VINEYARDS
Santomè has decided to dedicate 2,50 hectares to this vine having identified a very suitable soil in Roncade – Parcel 912 (65% clay and “caranto”). The vineyards are densely planted with 5000 vines per hectare producing an average of 100 quintals per hectare (more or less to 2kg for each plants)