2023 I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico – Veneto, Italy – 94 Points James Suckling

🏆 94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! A MAGNIFICENT VOLCANIC SOAVE CLASSICO FROM ONE OF VENETO'S MOST TALENTED WINEMAKERS!

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

2023 I Campi 'Campo Vulcano' Soave Classico – Soave, Veneto, Italy

 RRP $49

If you think Soave is simply a light, inexpensive Italian white wine, the 2023 I Campi Campo Vulcano is going to completely change your opinion.

This is serious Soave Classico.

Beautifully textured, wonderfully expressive and bursting with the distinctive mineral character that makes the finest wines from the volcanic hills of Soave so extraordinary.

And the critical recognition is outstanding.

94 points from James Suckling.

Made by the extraordinarily talented Flavio Prà, Campo Vulcano comes from carefully selected vineyards in the historic hills of Monteforte d'Alpone, one of the most celebrated areas within the Soave Classico appellation.

The wine combines two of the region's traditional white grape varieties: 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave.

The result is a beautifully balanced white with ripe citrus, golden apple, yellow peach, apricot, delicate white flowers and the unmistakable almond character associated with great Soave.

But what makes this wine particularly special is its texture.

Six months of maturation on lees gives the palate a wonderful sense of generosity and depth, while vibrant acidity and a beautifully savoury mineral finish maintain freshness and precision.

This is the kind of Italian white wine that makes you wonder why more people aren't drinking great Soave Classico.

At just $49 a bottle, it represents a wonderful opportunity to discover one of northern Italy's most distinctive white wine styles.

I Campi – The Extraordinary Talent of Flavio Prà

I Campi is the creation of Flavio Prà, a talented winemaker from the Verona area whose career has been built around an extraordinary understanding of vineyards, grape varieties and the diverse landscapes of Veneto.

Flavio has worked as a consulting oenologist for a number of important Italian wine producers, developing a reputation for his thoughtful and technically accomplished approach.

His philosophy is based on a simple principle.

Great wine begins with great vineyards.

The name I Campi, meaning the fields, reflects this commitment to finding exceptional sites and allowing their natural character to shine through in the finished wines.

Rather than attempting to impose a particular style on every wine, Flavio focuses on understanding the relationship between grape variety, soil, climate and vineyard exposure.

His work spans some of Veneto's most important wine-growing landscapes, including Soave and Valpolicella.

But it is his Soave Classico that provides one of the most compelling demonstrations of his approach.

Campo Vulcano is a wine that celebrates the remarkable volcanic soils of Monteforte d'Alpone.

The emphasis is on aromatic complexity, purity of fruit, texture and the distinctive savoury freshness of the region.

Flavio Prà is exactly the kind of winemaker we love discovering at Liquid Vibe – someone with an extraordinary understanding of his region and a genuine commitment to producing wines of character and individuality.

Campo Vulcano – A Wine Born from Volcanic Soils

The name Campo Vulcano tells you almost everything you need to know about the inspiration behind this remarkable wine.

It translates to Volcanic Field.

And the volcanic soils of the Soave Classico hills are fundamental to its character.

The vineyards are situated around Monteforte d'Alpone, in the historic eastern hills of the Soave appellation.

This is a fascinating landscape.

The soils have a volcanic geological origin, with dark basaltic material contributing to the distinctive character of the vineyards.

The hills are also influenced by fresh winds descending from the Lessini Mountains.

These conditions help moderate temperatures and preserve the natural acidity that is so important for producing beautifully balanced white wines.

The I Campi vineyards are positioned at elevations of approximately 170–210 metres above sea level.

Their favourable exposure provides the sunlight necessary for the Garganega grapes to develop flavour, while the elevated, ventilated setting contributes freshness and aromatic definition.

The vines were planted between 1970 and 1998, providing a mixture of mature vineyard material.

This is not simply a wine made from grapes grown somewhere in the Veneto. It is a carefully crafted expression of a particular volcanic landscape.

And that sense of place is one of the most captivating aspects of Campo Vulcano.

Garganega & Trebbiano di Soave – Two of Italy's Great White Grapes

The 2023 Campo Vulcano is a traditional blend of:

85% Garganega

15% Trebbiano di Soave

Garganega is the defining grape variety of Soave.

At its best, it produces wines with extraordinary aromatic complexity, combining citrus, orchard fruit, delicate florals and a distinctive almond character.

The finest examples can possess remarkable texture and depth without losing their freshness.

Trebbiano di Soave, historically associated with the region and closely related to Verdicchio, contributes another dimension.

It can bring additional acidity, citrus character and structure, helping create wines with impressive balance and longevity.

Together, these varieties form one of Italy's most fascinating traditional white wine combinations.

The Garganega provides generosity, aromatic complexity and texture.

The Trebbiano di Soave contributes energy, freshness and definition.

The result is a wine that combines richness and precision in a beautifully harmonious way.

For enthusiasts of great Italian white wines, this blend offers a wonderful alternative to Chardonnay, Fiano, Verdicchio and other premium Mediterranean white varieties.

Ripe Citrus, Yellow Peach, Almond & Beautiful Mineral Complexity

The 2023 I Campi Campo Vulcano is a beautifully expressive and wonderfully textured Soave Classico.

The wine displays a bright straw-yellow colour with golden reflections.

The aromatics are captivating.

Ripe citrus, golden apple, white peach and apricot combine with delicate white flowers, mimosa and subtle herbal notes.

There is a particularly attractive almond character.

Hints of fresh almond, dried nuts and gentle savoury spice contribute complexity and individuality.

The palate is generous and beautifully balanced.

Ripe orchard fruit provides an appealing richness, while refreshing acidity gives the wine energy and definition.

There is a lovely textural quality, enhanced by the extended maturation on lees.

The finish is persistent, savoury and distinctly mineral in character.

There is an attractive combination of ripe fruit, subtle nuttiness and refreshing citrus that makes the wine particularly satisfying.

This is Soave Classico with genuine substance – beautifully textured, wonderfully aromatic and full of the character of its volcanic origins.

94 points from James Suckling for a $49 Italian white wine is a brilliant result.

Thoughtful Winemaking – Six Months on Lees

The winemaking behind Campo Vulcano is designed to preserve the freshness and aromatic purity of the fruit while developing additional texture and complexity.

Following harvest, the grapes are destemmed and gently crushed.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of approximately 18°C.

The fermentation generally lasts 15–20 days.

This approach helps retain the delicate floral, citrus and orchard-fruit characters of Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave.

The wine then undergoes six months of maturation on its lees, with periodic stirring.

Lees maturation can contribute additional texture, mouthfeel and complexity without introducing the flavours associated with new oak barrels.

For a wine such as Campo Vulcano, this is particularly important.

The aim is to develop richness while allowing the natural fruit and distinctive vineyard character to remain at the forefront.

The wine also undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, contributing to its rounded texture.

The result is a beautifully harmonious white wine.

There is richness, but not heaviness.

Texture, but not excessive weight.

And wonderful freshness that carries through the finish.

This is intelligent winemaking that allows the remarkable volcanic terroir of Soave Classico to take centre stage.

Why Great Soave Classico Deserves Far More Attention

Soave has one of the most fascinating histories of any Italian white wine region.

For many years, the appellation was associated with inexpensive, high-volume wines.

And unfortunately, that reputation has sometimes overshadowed the extraordinary quality being produced by the region's finest growers.

The historic Soave Classico zone is a very different proposition.

Its hillside vineyards, volcanic and limestone-derived soils, traditional grape varieties and distinctive growing conditions provide the foundation for genuinely world-class white wines.

The finest examples can possess remarkable complexity, texture and longevity.

They combine the aromatic elegance of Garganega with a beautiful savoury character that makes them particularly compelling at the dinner table.

Campo Vulcano is a wonderful demonstration of this potential.

It has the fruit concentration and texture to satisfy Chardonnay enthusiasts, but with a distinctly Italian personality.

There is a beautiful almond character, fresh citrus, delicate florals and a persistent mineral finish.

If you love serious Italian whites but haven't explored the finest wines of Soave Classico, this is an outstanding place to start.

An Extraordinary Wine for Seafood

The 2023 Campo Vulcano is a magnificent food wine.

Its combination of ripe fruit, savoury complexity, refreshing acidity and beautifully rounded texture makes it particularly versatile.

The winery specifically recommends pairing the wine with premium seafood.

Think freshly shucked oysters, raw fish, grilled prawns, scampi, lobster and beautifully prepared shellfish.

The wine's citrus freshness and mineral character make it an excellent partner for delicate seafood dishes.

But it also has sufficient texture to complement richer preparations.

Try it with lobster linguine, seafood risotto, grilled fish with lemon butter or fresh pasta with prawns and herbs.

The subtle almond and savoury characters make it particularly attractive alongside vegetable dishes and medium-aged cheeses.

It is also a wonderful accompaniment to traditional Italian antipasti and premium cured meats.

This is exactly the kind of beautifully textured Italian white wine that can transform a simple seafood lunch into something memorable.

A White Wine with Genuine Cellaring Potential

One of the great surprises of serious Soave Classico is its ability to develop beautifully with bottle age.

The combination of Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave, refreshing acidity and careful lees maturation provides a foundation for additional complexity.

With time, the youthful citrus, peach and floral notes can evolve towards dried apricot, honey, toasted almond and more complex savoury characters.

The winery indicates an ageing potential of approximately three to five years.

For the 2023 Campo Vulcano, this makes the present period an attractive time to enjoy the wine, with further development possible under good storage conditions.

However, there is absolutely no need to wait.

The wine's beautiful balance between fruit generosity and mineral freshness makes it particularly appealing now.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have an enormous appreciation for the extraordinary quality emerging from Italy's great white wine regions.

And one of the most exciting developments is the increasing recognition of serious Soave Classico.

For far too long, Soave has been underestimated.

But when you taste a wine like the 2023 I Campi Campo Vulcano, it becomes immediately obvious just how good these wines can be.

First, there is the winemaker.

Flavio Prà is an exceptionally talented oenologist with a deep understanding of Veneto's vineyards and grape varieties.

Then there is the vineyard.

Beautifully positioned volcanic hillsides in Monteforte d'Alpone, with mature vines and cooling influences from the Lessini Mountains.

Then there is the blend.

85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave.

Two traditional Italian white grape varieties working beautifully together.

And finally, there are the reviews.

94 Points – James Suckling.

The wine itself is magnificent.

Ripe citrus, yellow peach, delicate flowers, almond and beautiful mineral complexity.

A wonderfully textured palate, refreshing acidity and a long, savoury finish.

At $49 a bottle, this is a seriously impressive Italian white wine.

If you enjoy great Chardonnay, Fiano, Verdicchio or the finest whites of northern Italy, this is a wine you should absolutely discover.

94 points. Volcanic vineyards. Mature vines. Six months on lees. Beautifully textured Garganega. Just $49.

The 2023 I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico is exactly the kind of outstanding Italian white wine we love introducing to our customers at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: I Campi

• Winemaker: Flavio Prà

• Wine: Campo Vulcano Soave Classico DOC

• Vintage: 2023

• Region: Monteforte d'Alpone, Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy

• Grape Varieties: 85% Garganega, 15% Trebbiano di Soave

• Soils: Volcanic

• Vineyard Elevation: Approximately 170–210 metres

• Vine Planting Years: 1970–1998

• Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel

• Fermentation Temperature: Approximately 18°C

• Fermentation Duration: 15–20 days

• Maturation: Six months on lees with bâtonnage

• Malolactic Fermentation: Partial

• Alcohol: 12.5% according to the producer's technical sheet

• Critic Ratings: 94 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

• Cellaring Potential: Approximately 3–5 years from vintage

• Style: Textured, mineral-driven, aromatic dry Italian white

• RRP: $49 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Lobster, prawns, scampi, grilled fish, seafood risotto, vegetable pasta and medium-aged cheeses

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C