Colli Euganei Rosso: The Bordeaux-Style Red From Veneto

Colli Euganei Rosso is an Italian wine made almost entirely of French grapes. Merlot, Cabernet and Carmenère moved to the volcanic hills near Padova in the 1800s, never left, and now everyone treats them like locals.

It’s one of Veneto’s best surprises. So let’s look at what’s in the bottle, how to read the label and which producers to know.

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Quick Facts

• What: a red blend from the volcanic Colli Euganei hills near Padova, in Veneto
• Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère, with up to 10% Raboso allowed
• Rule: no single variety above 85% in the standard Rosso
• Riserva: at least 24 months of ageing and 12% alcohol
• Food: risotto, meat sauces and grilled meats

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What Is Colli Euganei Rosso?

Colli Euganei Rosso is the main red wine of the Colli Euganei DOC, which was created in 1969. According to the local wine consortium, it’s a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère. No single grape may make up more than 85%. Up to 10% of Raboso is also allowed, which is a local touch in a very French recipe.

For the wider picture of the area, see my Colli Euganei wine guide.

Why Are There French Grapes in Veneto?

It sounds odd, but there’s a simple story behind it. According to the consortium, Count Augusto Corinaldi planted French varieties at his Lispida estate in the mid-1800s. He hoped to make a quality red for export. Merlot and Cabernet then spread across the hills. Veneto wasn’t alone, since Tuscany has its own French-grape story, which I told in my Super Tuscan history post.

Sources disagree on the details, though. Gazzetta del Gusto places the first planting near Monselice in 1870 and names a different family. So I’d call it the “mid-1800s” and enjoy the story without pinning it to one year or one name.

Either way, the grapes have been here long enough to feel local, which is why a Bordeaux-style red from volcanic hills feels less strange than it sounds.

What Each Grape Brings

The blend is the point, and each grape plays a role. According to the consortium:

• Merlot: sour cherry and elderberry when young, then cherry, blackberry and toast with age. It became the everyday red for local growers
• Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc: red fruit when young, then austere and elegant with tobacco. Cabernet Franc adds earthy, smoky and peppery notes
• Carmenère: structured, with strong green pepper and freshly cut grass
• Raboso: a small local addition, up to 10%

Producers can also bottle these grapes on their own, as Colli Euganei Merlot, Cabernet or Carmenère, so you’ll see single-grape wines on the same shelf.

Rosso or Riserva?

Both are red blends, but the rules are different:

	Rosso	Riserva
Minimum alcohol	11%	12%
Ageing	No minimum listed	At least 24 months, counted from 1 November of the harvest year
Blend	Merlot, Cabernets and Carmenère, none above 85%, up to 10% Raboso	Merlot 40 to 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Carmenère 20 to 60%, up to 10% Raboso
Style	Dry to off-dry	Dry

In practice, the Riserva is the bottle for a slower dinner, while the standard Rosso is the easy one. The Riserva figures come from Quattrocalici’s summary of the rules, so check the official text if you’re making wine.

What Does It Taste Like?

Expect red fruit, cherry and spice, with fresh or dried grass and sometimes tobacco or toast. The standard Rosso runs from dry to off-dry, while the Riserva stays dry.

Many producers age their reds in oak, from large casks to barriques, though some use concrete, so styles vary. My rule of thumb, not an official one: start with a Merlot-led bottle, and try a Carmenère if you like a peppery red.

Is the Label Changing?

Here’s something worth knowing before you shop. In late 2025, the consortium approved a label change, according to Vinetur. Red wines would carry simply “Colli Euganei DOC”, with the grape name allowed only in smaller print. The idea is to put the place first and the grape second.

As far as I can tell, that change still needed approval from the Veneto Region and the Ministry of Agriculture. I couldn’t find confirmation that it’s now in force. So check the bottle in your hand, because you may see either style.

Producers Worth Knowing

I haven’t tasted these, so think of this as a map, not a recommendation. The list comes from a virtual tasting organised by the consortium and led by the sommelier Andrea Gori, as described by the blog Apron and Sneakers. The vintages will change, so look at the producers. The six bottles were:

• Vigne al Colle, Colli Euganei DOC 2023: 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, from Rovolon
• Giacomo Salmaso, Terrae Pacis Merlot 2023: 100% Merlot
• Bacco e Arianna, Colli Euganei Cabernet 2023: 100% Cabernet
• Le Volpi, 36 Months Merlot 2017: three years in French oak, then a year in concrete
• Notte di Galileo, Riserva 2021: 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Il Mottolo, Vinànima Carmenère 2021: 100% Carmenère

Bacco e Arianna is the winery I visited in Vò, and I told that story in my post on grape stomping at Bacco e Arianna.

What to Eat With It

These are food reds. The consortium suggests pairings that depend on the age of the wine:

• Young reds: rich risotto, meat-based pasta such as pasticcio, bigoli with duck or wild boar ragù, and white meats cooked in tocio
• Aged, oak-matured reds: grilled or braised red meats and mature cheeses

For more ideas, see my Italian wine and food pairings guide.

Where to Taste It

The easiest way is at a winery in the hills, where you can compare a Merlot with a Cabernet or a Carmenère. Vignalta in Arquà Petrarca, which makes a Riserva, is a good place to start for reds, and my winery guide lists four more. Cantine Aperte, the open-cellar weekend in May, is a lively way to try several in one day.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Colli Euganei Rosso? A red blend from the Colli Euganei DOC near Padova, made mainly from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère.

Is Colli Euganei Rosso a Bordeaux-style wine? Yes. The grapes are French, and according to the consortium they have grown in the hills since the mid-1800s.

What is the difference between Rosso and Riserva? Riserva needs at least 24 months of ageing and 12% alcohol, while the standard Rosso needs 11%.

Is Colli Euganei Rosso dry? Riserva is dry. The standard Rosso ranges from dry to off-dry.

What does Colli Euganei Rosso taste like? Red fruit, cherry and spice, with grassy notes and sometimes tobacco or toast.

What does it go with? Risotto, meat sauces, grilled meats and aged cheeses.

Does the label have to say the grape name? Not always. The consortium approved a change in late 2025 that puts “Colli Euganei DOC” first. I couldn’t confirm it’s in force.

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One Last Thing

Fior d’Arancio will always be my first love, but the reds are made for the dinner table. I like finding Merlot and Cabernet happily settled on volcanic hills, far from where most people expect them.

Have you tried one? Tell me whether you preferred the Merlot or the Cabernet.

— Kelly 🍷

#ColliEuganei #ItalianWine #Veneto #RedWine

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Continue Reading

• Colli Euganei Wine: A Guide to the Hills Near Padova
• Colli Euganei Wineries You Can Visit
• Fior d’Arancio DOCG
• Euganean Hills Fun Facts: Poets, Spas and a Stuffed Cat

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Sources

• Consorzio Vini Colli Euganei: Rosso
• Quattrocalici: Colli Euganei Rosso Riserva DOC
• Vinetur: Colli Euganei red wines to drop grape names in labeling overhaul
• Apron and Sneakers: Italy’s Colli Euganei, volcanic origins and the rise of contemporary red wines
• Gazzetta del Gusto: Vini Colli Euganei, storia, evoluzione e dove degustarli

Information checked in November 2026. Rules and labels can change, so confirm with the producer or the consortium.

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