The Veneto region, located in the northeastern corner of Italy, is slightly smaller than Italy's other main wine-producing regions, (Puglia, Tuscany, Piedmont and Lombardy), but the region generates more wine than any of them, with vineyard plantings covering over 190,000,000 acres. The vine has been present in this territory for more than 2,000 years, but it was during the Middle Ages that the commercial power of Venice introduced Veneto wines to other countries. This in conjunction with new cuttings from Greece helped local winemaking flourish. In the mid-16th century, the importation of Greek wines drastically decreased, offering the possibility of development of the Veneto's indigenous wines. It was during this period that the wines of Treviso, Vicenza and, of course, those of the Valpolicella, came into their own. One of the reasons Veneto has been so successful is due to the region's native vines, such as Garganega, Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. The territory and climatic diversity, with areas mostly characterized by alluvial and volcanic soils, and hilly or flat areas, which allow for the production of many different wine styles, are also significant contributors to the region's renown. Wines can range from light and drinkable to full-bodied and intense. Source: winetraveler.com