History

1000 BCE

Paleo-Venetians

These people, also known as The Veneti, inhabited a region between the Adige and Tagliamento rivers. This ancient culture spoke their own language, called venetic, and grew grapes and grain.

181 BCE

The Romans

The Veneti and Romans became allies, though the Veneti people eventually became part of Roman culture. This co-operation and eventual integration increased grape-growing and winemaking in the region.

530

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Grape Growing Described

San Venanzio Fortunato, Bishop of Poitiers Valdobbiadene is described as an area “where vines bud below the high mountains, and in which the lush greenery protects the more barren zones”.

1300-1700s

Venetian Republic Rule

The Republic of Venice controlled the Adriatic for many centuries, and did this through its vast arsenal of ships. The republic paid many of its shipbuilders in wine. Those wines were sourced from throughout the land, including the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills.

1754

Prosecco First Mentioned

Poet Aurelio Acanti in his Book of Poetic verses, Il Roccolo writes “So much it is worth, this Prosecco, that I would not exchange it not even with the ambrosia of the gods”

1797

Napoleon

Napoleon invades Venice and takes control of all its corresponding lands, including the hills of Prosecco.

1814

The Hapsburgs

The Austrian Empire under the Habsburgs took control of the area. Their appreciation for wine is well known and very likely sourced wines from here for their court.

1866

Veneto joins The Kingdom of Italy

1870s

Verdiso and Bianchetta Grapes Reign

Though Prosecco (the grape) had been well appreciated, the main grapes in the region were Verdiso and Bianchetta. These white grapes are still grown today and can make up a portion of the blend (max 15%). In the 1870s though Prosecco (aka Glera) only made up 8% of all grapes.

1876

Italy’s First Enology School established In Conegliano

This was the first major push for trying to improve viticulture and winemaking standards in the region and throughout Italy to ensure, that through science, they could improve their wines. A number of new varieties were produced here, mainly Manzoni Bianco by famed viticulturalise Luigi Manzoni.

1895

Martinotti Method

Federico Martinotti developed the technique for making sparkling wines in a closed tank. Today this is called the Martinotti Method, but is also known as the Tank Method. This method is still used today to create Prosecco Superiore.

1923

Institute of Viticultural Experimentation Founded

Another move towards improving the understanding of how to grow quality grapes led to the foundation of this institute.

1930-1940

Prosecco Takes Over

The majority of plantings (over 60%) at this point are Prosecco (aka Glera) and there is a distinct focus on planting on steep slopes to improve quality.

1914-1945

WWI, Faciscm, and WWII

Two World Wars and facsicm created a massive Italian Diaspora. Millions of people left all over Italy, but especially from the region of Veneto.

This caused many vineyards to be left unattended, and to fall into disrepair. Many of the people leaving Veneto emigrated to the United States and Canada. Grape growing and winemaking stagnated at this time.

1962

Remaining Producers Ban Together

After the war, there was a distinct possibility of losing the knowledge and skills of how to produce high quality wines due to mass emigration. This caused the remaining producers to create the Consortium to ensure they produced high quality wines

1969

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Becomes a DOC

This is the first exclusively sparkling wine DOC in Italy, and was exclusively produced from grapes made in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills.

1980s

People Return to The Hills

An influx of people returning to the region and focusing on high quality wines and viticulture drives growth in production and in quality.

2009

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Becomes a DOCG

The region becomes Italy’s 44th DOCG, indicating its rise in quality in winemaking and viticulture.

2019

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The unique combination of hogback hills, steep vineyards on grassy terraces called ciglioni and a landscape defined as "patchwork" along with its rich history made Conegliano Valdobbiadene a World Heritage Site. Just one of five wine regions focused heritage sites in Italy.