Garda: land of great wines
Lake Garda is surrounded by vineyards that produce some of the most interesting wines in northern Italy. Three regions-Trentino, Lombardy and Veneto-share the shores of the lake, each with its own appellations, grape varieties and winemaking traditions. A journey into Garda wine is a journey into diversity.
The wines of the Veronese shore
Bardolino and Chiaretto
Bardolino DOC is a light, drinkable red wine made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara in the hills of the eastern shore. Bardolino Chiaretto, its rosé cousin, has become one of Italy’s most popular rosés in recent years: fresh, elegant and perfect with lake fish. The Bardolino Wine Trail is a bicycle route among the area’s wineries.
Custoza
Custoza DOC is a white from the moraine hills of the lower lake, made from a blend of Garganega, Trebbianello and Bianca Fernanda. Fresh and floral, it is the ideal companion for a lakeside aperitif or a light fish dish.
The wines of the Brescian shore
Lugana
Lugana DOC is the great white wine of Garda: produced from the Turbiana (Trebbiano di Lugana) grape variety on the moraine hills between Sirmione and Desenzano, it is an elegant, mineral and long-lived wine. The best versions – Superiore and Riserva – rival the great Italian whites. The production area is relatively small, making it an exclusive and sought-after wine.
Chiaretto of Valtenesi
Valtenesi rosé is made from Groppello, an indigenous grape variety that exists only in the hills between Moniga, Padenghe and Polpenazze. More structured than Bardolino’s Chiaretto, it has notes of red fruits and a pleasant savoriness. TheRing of the Vineyards of Polpenazze is the best way to discover it.
Trentino wines
Nosiola and Vino Santo
Nosiola is the indigenous grape variety of Trentino Garda: a fresh, aromatic white, perfect with lake cuisine. The most precious version is Vino Santo Trentino, made from Nosiola grapes dried on mats for months: a concentrated, golden nectar, among the rarest and most prized sweet wines in Italy.
Tastings and wineries
Garda wineries are generally open for tours and tastings by appointment. Many also offer direct sales at bargain prices. Here’s how to organize a wine tourism day:
- Bardolino area: bike path between wineries, 3-4 tasting stops, lunch at winery
- Lugana area: visit to wineries between Sirmione and Desenzano, lake fish pairing
- Valtenesi: Valtenesi bicycle route with winery stops for Groppello and Chiaretto
Garda DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Along with wine, Garda produces one of Italy’s finest extra virgin oils. Garda DOP oil is delicate, fruity and slightly spicy, produced from the Casaliva, Grignano and Frantoio cultivars that thrive thanks to the lake’s mild microclimate. Oil mills in the area offer tastings and direct sales, often in combination with local wines.
Tasting tips
If you drive, designate a driver or travel by bike. Tastings generally cost 10-20€ per person for 4-6 wines with appetizers. Book in advance, especially on weekends and in high season. Harvest time (September-October) is the most atmospheric time to visit wineries.
