Cà dei Frati

When Felice Dal Cero took over the farm founded by Andrea Frati on the southern shore of Lake Garda in a dilapidated state, it was not yet foreseeable that the estate, which had already been mentioned in a document in 1782, would one day produce top-quality wines at an international level. But in the course of time, the Cà dei Frati winery, based in Lugana di Sirmione, has recently even been able to create new vineyards in a hurry, selling its fine wines more and more successfully all over the world. Felice's son Pietro contributed significantly to the recognition of the region of origin in 1969, two years after the creation of the Lugana DOC, when he marketed the first bottles of Lugana dei Frati. Through improvements in the vineyard and the cellar the quality of the estate wines could be constantly improved. The northern Italian winery is a member of Viticoltori Italiani di Eccellenza, a voluntary association of quality-conscious Italian winegrowers.

Although the Cà dei Frati winery also produces powerful and impressive red wines, the main focus is on producing the highest quality white wines. For many lovers of Italian white wines, the winery is even the epitome of top wines from Lombardy. Today, Pietro's creative and also down-to-earth children run the company that combines tradition and innovation in the best possible way. Igino has sovereignty in the cellar, Gian Franco takes care of the vineyards and Anna Maria is responsible for marketing and sales.

Lake Garda plays an important role in the quality of Lugana DOC wines. The valley boiler acts also in the autumn like a heat accumulator, so that the temperatures never sink too strongly. The mild climate makes a late harvest of healthy and fully ripened grapes possible. In addition to the local Trebbiano di Lugana and Marzemino grape varieties, the Cà dei Frati vineyard portfolio also includes Sangiovese and the international varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The times in which the estate produced grapes for large wineries and bulk wines are long gone. Already in the sixties the farm was completely converted to viticulture. Depending on the vineyard and the degree of ripeness of Igino, the grapes are processed very sensitively in the cellar using state-of-the-art technology. The oenologist constantly explores new ways of vinification and tries to exploit the potential of the terroir and the raw materials even better. With the purchase of the Luxinum vineyard in Valpolicella, the Dal Cero siblings returned from Lombardy to their former homeland of Veneto to dedicate a first-class Amarone to their father. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Dal Cero family has made a significant contribution to the success of Lake Garda's wines by producing top-quality wines that highlight the maturing potential of the white wines produced in this area."Gambero Rosso