The Lake Garda area, specifically the region between the lake and the provinces of Brescia, Verona, and Trento, not only offers stunning landscapes to explore but also boasts a rich food and wine heritage. For centuries, the shores of Lake Garda have been home to vineyards producing excellent white, red, and rosé wines.

Jules Verne proposed "Around the World in 80 Days," and we offer "Around the Lake in 11 Wines." Let's briefly discover the best wines of this region to enjoy during dinner, an aperitif at a local spot, or why not, during a boat excursion.

Garda... in White

Lugana: a renowned and high-quality wine. The wineries of Sirmione (Ca' Dei Frati, Ca' Lojera, Cascina Maddalena, Nunzio Ghiraldi, Pasetto Emilio, Azienda Agricola Sgreva, Az. Agricola Don Lorenzo Della Grillaia, and Corte Anna) produce this wine on clayey, fertile, and mineral-rich soil between Brescia and Verona. Lugana wine is delicate, soft, and well-balanced, characterized by aromas of almonds, flowers, and citrus fruits. It’s wonderful as an aperitif and perfect with appetizers, fish dishes, shellfish, and fresh cheeses.

Custoza: a wine produced from grapes grown in only nine municipalities between the southern shore of Verona's Lake Garda, the Adige River, and the Mincio River. It has an intense aroma and a slightly tangy taste. This fresh and slightly aromatic wine is perfect as an aperitif or paired with fish dishes, risottos, fried foods, roasted meats, vegetables, and desserts.

Soave: a pleasant wine with a strong floral scent and hints of hawthorn, elderflower, acacia, ripe apple, and banana. Its color is straw yellow with greenish reflections, and its taste is balanced, dry, fresh, with a slightly tangy aftertaste. Soave is excellent as an aperitif and pairs beautifully with grilled fish, sushi, pasta with light sauces, risottos, soups, white meats, vegetables, aged or blue cheeses, and cured meats.

Recioto di Soave: a DOCG wine produced in the Soave hills, made from grapes dried for several months before pressing. It has a bright yellow color, an intense fruity aroma with floral hints, and a velvety, sweet, harmonious, and pleasantly almond-flavored taste. Recioto is perfect as a dessert or meditation wine.

Garda... in Red

Garda Classico Groppello: likely dating back to Roman or barbarian times, this wine is made from grapes grown exclusively in the Valtenesi area. Its taste is delicate, velvety, spicy, and pleasantly fruity. This wine pairs wonderfully with medium-aged or spicy cheeses, Veneto soppressa, local cured meats, meat dishes, and flavorful Lake Garda pasta dishes.

Bardolino: the wine labeled "Classico" is exclusively produced from grapes harvested and vinified in the oldest production areas, including the municipalities of Affi, Bardolino, Costermano, Cavaion Veronese, Lazise, and Garda. A simple ruby-red wine with a slightly fruity taste featuring notes of strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, cherry, sour cherry, and spices. Known for its great drinkability and easy pairings.

Valpolicella Classico: produced in the province of Verona from a blend of different grapes. Its color is ruby red with garnet reflections, its aroma is intense, pleasant, and enveloping with hints of sour cherry, spices, and bitter almonds. The taste is full, warm, and velvety. Excellent with baked pasta, meat-based sauces, white meats, and cheeses.

Amarone: the aroma of this exceptional wine, which can age for over 20 years, comes from the drying of various grapes. It is a full-bodied wine with an intense red color and spicy, fruity notes, pairing perfectly with meat dishes, game, aged cheeses, or enjoyed as a meditation wine.

Valtenesi DOC: made from native grape varieties grown on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. Valtenesi pairs splendidly with meat-based first and second courses, vegetarian dishes, fresh, and semi-hard cheeses.

Marzemino: an intensely ruby-red wine, one of the oldest in Italy, famously mentioned by Mozart in his opera "Don Giovanni." Ideal when paired with mushroom-based dishes, white and red meats, cured meats, and sausages.

Garda... in Rosé

Chiaretto della Valtenesi: its aroma recalls wild berries, strawberries, grapefruit, and vanilla, while its taste is fresh, light, and elegantly structured. Thanks to its freshness, it is an ideal wine to enjoy as an aperitif. It also pairs well with appetizers, vegetables, fish-based first courses, white meats, and sushi.