Driving from Venice northwards, there’s not much to tell you
that you’ve moved from the over-fertile flatlands that produce so much
anonymous, intensively produced Prosecco, to the equally rather flat but
charming, stony, organic vineyards of La Jara. Now well established in harmony
with nature, the vines are uniform, drawing on a deep bank of nutrients from
the ground-down mountain. To this phenomenon the estate credits the delicate
floral aromas of their Glera (Prosecco) and Pinot Grigio grapes; combined with
a dedication to organic viticulture, they make affordable wines of outstanding
quality. In their own words. “We like to think that Nature is a perfect
mechanism, whom it is our duty to indulge. day-to-day attention to the vineyard
renders our grapes – and our wines – truly exceptional.”

These days, La Jara is a story of two brothers. Massimo, who
reminds one of a flamboyant Bond villain, and Paolo who makes the wine. And
Giovanni, their sales director of many years, who keeps everyone on track.
Their goal has always been to produce bright, easy and pure wines; they are
always a joy.

Year on year they’ve added to their organic plantings,
consistently choosing the best sites, and equally they’ve kept their
wine-making technology and operational know-how up to date, which is crucial in
an area that is famously humid and flat.

Veneto, located in northeastern Italy, is one of the country’s most productive and diverse wine regions, known for both quantity and quality. Stretching from the foothills of the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, it benefits from a variety of microclimates and soil types, enabling the successful cultivation of numerous grape varieties.

The region’s climate is largely temperate, with warm summers and cold winters. The Alps provide shelter from harsh northern weather, while breezes from Lake Garda and the Adriatic Sea help to moderate temperatures and reduce disease pressure. These climatic influences support healthy ripening and maintain good acidity in the grapes.

Veneto is home to several renowned wine areas, including Valpolicella, Soave, and the Prosecco-producing hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. In Valpolicella, native red varieties such as Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara are used to produce a range of wines, from fresh Valpolicella Classico to powerful Amarone della Valpolicella. Soave focuses on white wines made primarily from Garganega, offering citrus, almond, and floral notes.

Prosecco, made mainly from the Glera grape, has become one of the world’s most popular sparkling wines. Other important grapes include Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay, reflecting the region’s balance of tradition and international appeal.

Pinot Grigio, known as Pinot Gris in France, is a white grape variety that originated in Burgundy as a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape’s skins have a distinctive greyish-pink hue—hence the name grigio, meaning “grey” in Italian. Despite being the same variety, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris wines can differ greatly in style, influenced by regional climate and winemaking tradition.

The grape typically produces light to medium-bodied wines with bright acidity and delicate aromas. Classic Pinot Grigio from northern Italy is dry and refreshing, with subtle notes of green apple, lemon, lime, and pear, sometimes accompanied by a hint of almond or white flowers. The wine is almost always unoaked, allowing its crisp, clean character to shine.

Pinot Grigio is most famously grown in Italy’s Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige regions, where it has become a staple of modern white wine drinking. In France’s Alsace region, Pinot Gris is made in a fuller-bodied, richer style, often with spice, honeyed fruit, and greater ageing potential. The grape is also cultivated in cooler parts of the New World, including Oregon, New Zealand, and southern England, where it shows lively acidity and a fruit-forward profile.