A couple years back I was invited to a wine tasting in
Boston fully dedicated to the white wines of Lugana. It was quite a pleasant surprise to discover
the beauty of these wines that aren’t often enough at the top of every
winelover’s list. Our Italian Food, Wine
& Travel group is exploring what these wines are all about including the
wide variety of styles and how ageworthy they are.
Lugana is a wine region located on the southern tip of Lake
Garda. It’s in northern Italy and
borders both the Veneto and Lombardy regions.
It’s comprised of the following towns: Sirmione, Pozzolengo, Desenzano, Londato
del Garda and Peschiara del Garda, with the latter being the only to reside in
the Veneto. It’s a short trip from the
major cities of Brescia and Verona. I ventured
over to Peschiera del Garda for the first time on my last adventure to Italy over
a year ago.
The area of Lugana was once completely covered as a forest,
known as “Selva Lucana”, probably hence where the name came form. When the glaciers came down from the alpine
region it formed Lake Garda and created the unique morainic soils.
Wines from Lugana are primarily made from the turbiana grape
also known as trebbiano di lugana. There
is a 10% allowance of other non-aromatic white grapes, but many producers are
making these wines with 100% turbiana.
The regular wines of Lugana can typically only be aged about 2-3 years,
but the others including the superior and riserva wines have capabilities to be
aged 10+ years.
Turbiana grapes - Copywright of Selva Capuzza |
There are 5 different styles of Lugana: regular, Superiore,
Riserva, Late Harvest and Sparkling. The
regular wines of Lugana make up 90% of the production of the Lugana DOC. The wines made in the Peschiera del Garda
area actually produce about 60% of the wines in the area. I’m sharing one from the regular style Lugana
and one from the late harvest, known as vendemmia
tardiva.
Copyright of Selva Capuzza |
Luca Formentini of Selva Capuzza - Copyright of Selva Capuzza |
The wine from Lugana I’m sharing today is from Selva Capuzza
in the Lombardy region. It’s location is
situated of the site of the important Italian battle, San Martino e Solferino,
that took place in 1859. The 2013 Podere Selva Capuzza Lugana DOC is
their wine they make with pride and
is sourced from their highest and oldest vineyard. A wine that is fresh and rich with florals
and fruit combined with mineral notes. 13%
ABV SRP
Copyright of Selva Capuzza |
The other wine I’m sharing is the 2011 Tenuta Roveglia Filo di Arianna Lugana Vendemmia Tardiva DOC. This wine is harvested late October to early
November allowing the grapes to fully concentrate before they are hand
picked. The wine is aged 12-14 months in
oak barrels. It’s a wine of full body
with almond notes seeming silky on the palate. 13.5% ABV SRP
Tenuta Roveglia was started by a Swiss businessman by the name of Federico Zweifel when he relocated to the area at the end of 19th century. Four generations later his family continues to carry on the production and traditions of the winery as it stands today.
See what my fellow bloggers have to say about Lugana wine:
Copyright of Tenuta Roveglia |
Copyright of Tenuta Roveglia |
- Marcia at Joy of Wine: Lugana is "Not just Another Italian Grape"
- Jane at Always Ravenous: "Crab Herb Crusted Chilean Sea Bass and Lugana Wine"
- Wendy from A Day In The Life On The Farm:"Seared shrimp and wild mushroom Risotto with Lugana wine”
- Camilla from Culinary Adventures With Camilla: "Turbiana Grapes and Tuna Tacos"
- Jill at L’Occasion :"Lugana: An Italian White Wine For All Seasons"
- Katarina at Grapevine Adventures: "3 Lugana DOC Producers in Comparison at #italianfwt"
- Lisa at The Wine Chef: "Seafood Pasta With Tomatoes, Garlic And Lugana White Wine"
- Li of The Wining Hour: "Lugana Loves Lake Garda"
- Rupal the Syrah Queen: "A Journey to Lugana - Italy’s Elegant White Wines."
- Lynn at Savor the Harvest: "Change It Up With Lugana DOC and Turbiana"
- Susannah at Avvinare: "Lugana Love"
- Gwendolyn at Wine Predator with "Fall for Lugana and Chicken Piccata
- Nicole at Somm's Table with "One Afternoon in Lugana at Podere Selva Capuzza"
*These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are my own.
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