I find Venice’s wine story particularly fascinating because of its history as an influential, bustling port. As early as the Middle Ages, wines were being imported and exported out of Venice. The importing of wines from Greece, along with new species of vines, allowed Venetian viticulture to develop and, by exporting their own wines, a demand for them began to spread into Europe. When the trading power waned in the mid-sixteenth century, less Greek wine was imported and so the development of local wines from Valpolicella, Treviso and Vincenza began.