Cartizze, derived from the dialect term gardiz, or the reed mat on which the grape clusters are placed to dry, is the sub-denomination for a small zone, in the commune of Valdobbiadene, in the steepest hills of Santo Stefano and Saccol. This bowl-shaped hilly terrain is composed of sandstone and clay marl that ensures that the glera grapes almost achieve over-ripeness, and thus develop an inimitable concentration of aromas. The resulting sparkling wine, though it retains all the crispness of a Prosecco Superiore, takes on a slight sweetness and exhibits a dense complex of fragrances.