The Corti Benedettine del Padovano area, awarded the D.O.C designation in 2004, extends to the southeast of the province of Padua and the south of the province of Venice. The designation does not, however, define a specific geographical area as much as marks an important historical period in terms of the social and economic development of this part of the Veneto plain.
Wine-growing and wine-making go back to the days of Antenor who, according to a legend, is the mythical Trojan hero who founded the city of Padua and first cultivated a magic plant, that he had jealously brought back from the ancient lands of Asia.
The earliest written evidence of wine growing in the area dates to Roman times during the era of the second Republic. Most of the wine cultivation that was occurring in the specific area has been attributed mostly to the Benedictine groups, who also became the owners of large land areas for almost 1000 years. These religious groups oversaw the administration, economic, and social development of large states which appeared land for cultivation, created embankments along the rivers, and constructed rule buildings. It was a wine that was produced and stored the sellers of the Courts and became a major commodity to exchange with the city states of Padova and Venice.
Venice trade records show that these wines·were especially popular and enjoyed·popular trade value throughout many Mediterranean ports. Centuries of experience had gained vineyards and wineries a good name for quality, in this part of Veneto where, together with the historical and native grapevines, such as Raboso, Refosco, Tocai and Moscato giallo, wine-growers also produced the so called 'international wines' that thrive in the excellent local climate and soil conditions: Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot grigio and Pinot bianco. Many of these wines are to be enjoyed young, appreciated for their fresh taste accompanied by intense floral notes, whilst others require medium or long periods of ageing, underscoring their bouquet and offering the palate greater complexity and an elegant structure, along with superior contours.
EXPLORING THE CORTI BENEDETTINE WINE ROAD
Visitors to the area have the chance to see medieval monasteries and courts, some of which are today used as villas or residences. Piove di Sacco offers the beauty of the Monastery of Saints Vitus and Modestus, which was already existing in 1100, while Legnaro and Correzzola each have an important Benedictine Court. In Bagnoli, Villa Widmann still shows the ancient structure of the monastery built after the city was donated to Benedictine monks in 954.
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