Typical products
The quest for the flavours of Vicenza starts with the king of cheeses, Asiago, a delectable PDO cheese whose production is strictly regulated by a Producer’s Association, which manages about seventy cheese factories and various cheese caves. If Asiago (which takes its name from the plateau where it has been being made for centuries and is most commonly found as Stravecchio – extra mature) is a hugely traditional cheese, like Vezzena, Dolcezza dell’Altopiano and goat and sheep’s cheese, both fresh and matured are popular with consumers.
Soppressa salami is king of the cured meats while the most popular regional vegetable is White Asparagus of Bassano.
Still in the Grappa area, with its rich choice of flower species, honey production has also become increasingly popular, thanks above all to its particular organoleptic properties.
The varieties we find here are “multiflora montano” and “millefiori di collina”.
We should also mention Rotzo and Tonezza potatoes, the famous Marostica cherries , cultivated between Salcedo, Fara Vicentino, Breganze, Mason, Molvena, Pianezze, Marostica, Bassano, limited to the territory that extends to the uplands to the right of the Brenta river and lastly in part of the area within the Municipality of Schiavon.
There is a document dating back to the first half of the 1400s that refers to cherry cultivation in the town fame for its chess game, and in this area cherry cultivation is in fact of considerable importance in the agricultural economy of the territory . There was already a cherry market in Mason Vicentino in the early 1950s. All the cherries in the municipal territory and surrounding municipalities would be taken there. The Producer’s Association was established in 1957 and still collects, stores and distributes fruit cultivated over a surface area of about 460 hectares.
Marostica cherries are produced almost exclusively in the hillside areas on rich, fertile soils, which help to obtain a sweet, tasty product.
Grappa production also boasts a centuries-old tradition and you can visit some of the distilleries in Bassano del Grappa to discover the hidden secrets behind this grape spirit.
Then passing through the March of Treviso, we must not forget to sample the famous Radicchio di Treviso, in its early and late varieties, while the Prosecco DOC hills that stretch from the upper march to the northern reaches of Treviso, are ideal for cultivation of grapes. This is where hundreds of vineyards have sprung up, open to visitors, where you can buy typical products like wine, oil and spirits.