Wines of Lake Garda

A journey through the vineyards of Lake Garda and Verona

Red wines

Full-bodied, aromatic, and intense. The red wines of Lake Garda—Bardolino DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella DOC, and Garda Classico Groppello DOC—are the perfect companions for flavorful dishes, convivial moments, and contemplative tastings.

 

▪️Bardolino Classico DOC

Light and fresh, Bardolino Classico DOC is one of the most iconic red wines of Lake Garda. It's produced on the eastern shore, among the moraine hills, where the mild microclimate is shaped by the lake and Monte Baldo.

The wine is made from a blend dominated by Corvina Veronese, along with Rondinella and smaller amounts of Molinara and other local grape varieties. The result is a wine with a bright ruby red color, delicate aromas of cherry, wild strawberries, raspberry, and subtle floral notes

The Bardolino Classico DOC designation is reserved for wines produced in the historic area between Bardolino, Garda, Lazise, Affi, Costermano, and Cavaion Veronese. Depending on the version—Novello, Superiore, or Superiore Classico—Bardolino reveals many facets of an extraordinary territory, woven together through vineyards, history, and conviviality.

💡Ideal with simple first courses like pasta with tomato sauce, soups and risottos, white meats, cured meats, fresh cheeses, vegetables, fried dishes, and pizza.

Consorzio Vini Bardolino

 

▪️Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG is one of the most prestigious Italian red wines, a true symbol of the Valpolicella winemaking tradition.

It's made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and other native grape varieties such as Oseleta, Negrara, or Molinara, grown exclusively in the hills between Verona and Lake Garda. Its uniqueness stems from an ancient technique: the selected grapes are left to dry in fruit lofts for about 100–120 days, during which they lose part of their water content, concentrating sugars and aromas.

The slow, complete fermentation yields a dry, full-bodied, and structured wine with a deep garnet red color. On the nose, it reveals notes of ripe fruit, cherry in alcohol, plum, sweet spices, tobacco, and cocoa. On the palate, it's powerful, warm, with remarkable smoothness and persistence.

This is a wine with great aging potential, capable of evolving in the bottle for decades. It represents the most majestic soul of the Verona region: a rare balance between strength and elegance.

💡Ideal with hearty dishes like roasts, braised meats, game meat, and aged cheeses.

Consorzio Valpolicella

 

▪️Valpolicella DOC

Valpolicella DOC perfectly embodies the Verona region and is prized for its versatility and freshness.

It's made primarily from Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes, grown exclusively within the hilly area of Valpolicella, north of Verona, which includes 19 municipalities such as Negrar, Fumane, Marano, San Pietro in Cariano, and Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella.

The base version of Valpolicella DOC stands out for its fragrant and vinous profile, with notes of cherry and light spices—perfect for pairing with everyday dishes. The Superiore variety, on the other hand, requires at least one year of aging and is made from more carefully selected grapes, offering greater structure, aromatic intensity, and a longer aging potential.

💡Ideal with meat main courses and aged cheeses.

Consorzio Valpolicella

 

▪️Garda Classico Groppello DOC

Garda Classico Groppello DOC is one of the most distinctive local wines of Lake Garda.

It's made primarily from the Groppello grape, a native variety grown almost exclusively in the Valtènesi area on the Brescia side of the lake. The name Groppello likely comes from the compact shape of the berries, which resemble a grop (it means knot in Brescian dialect).

The wine shows a bright, light ruby red color and a delicate yet unmistakable bouquet, marked by spicy notes and red fruit flavors. Garda Classico Groppello DOC tells the story of the Garda region's tradition with elegance and authenticity.

💡Ideal with flavorful first courses, light meats, and medium-aged cheeses.

Quattrocalici

 

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White wines

Fresh, aromatic, versatile. The white wines of Lake Garda are born among gentle hills and lake breezes, yielding wines that are perfect for aperitifs and for pairing with light dishes. Every glass is a toast to the beauty of the landscape.

 

▪️Custoza DOC

Fresh, harmonious, and versatile, Custoza DOC is a white wine born in the heart of the Veronese moraine hills, between Lake Garda and the city of Verona.

Made from a blend of native and traditional grape varieties—including Garganega, Trebbianello, Bianca Fernanda, Malvasia, Riesling Italico and Toscano, Pinot Bianco, and Chardonnay—it stands out for its straw-yellow color and delicate aromas.

This is a wine with a distinct personality, enjoyable in its youth or, in the Superiore or Riserva versions, left to evolve into greater complexity. The production area includes nine municipalities in the province of Verona, among them Sommacampagna, Valeggio sul Mincio, Peschiera del Garda, and Lazise.

💡Ideal with sea and lake fish, fried dishes, vegetables, Valeggio tortellini, and pumpkin tortelli.

 

▪️Lugana DOC

Elegant, fresh, and mineral, Lugana DOC is an outstanding white wine produced in the southern part of Lake Garda, straddling Lombardy and Veneto. It comes from a unique terroir characterized by clay-rich soils packed with mineral salts, a legacy of the ancient glaciations that formed the lake basin.

Made exclusively from the native Turbiana grape, it delivers structure, aging potential, and a refined, distinctive aromatic profile with floral and fruity notes.

Alongside the standard version, there are four other types: Superiore (aged at least one year), Riserva (at least 24 months, including 6 in bottle), Vendemmia Tardiva (a late-harvest style for greater concentration), and Spumante (produced using the Charmat or Traditional Method).

Lugana was among the first DOC-certified wines in Italy, recognized back in 1967.

💡 Ideal with appetizers, first courses, fish, fresh cheeses, and pizza.

 

▪️Soave DOC

Among Italy's great white wines, Soave DOC is one of the most internationally renowned and appreciated. Grown on the gentle hills east of Verona, it's made primarily from Garganega grapes.

The balance between the mild climate, altitude, and soil composition gives rise to an elegant and age-worthy wine with a fresh and floral profile. The color is straw yellow, sometimes with greenish highlights; the delicate yet lingering bouquet evokes white flowers, yellow-fleshed fruit, and almond; the palate is dry, harmonious, with a pleasant bitter almond finish.

Soave is also available in Classico (from the historic production zone), Superiore DOCG, Riserva, Vendemmia Tardiva, and Spumante versions, showcasing its remarkable versatility.

💡Ideal with appetizers, first courses, fish, vegetables, and aged cheeses like Taleggio and Grana Padano.

 

 

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Rosés & Sparkling Wines

The rosé and sparkling wines of Lake Garda are crafted using methods that enhance freshness and fragrance, offering light, versatile wines that suit a wide range of occasions. Rosé wines, such as the famous Chiaretto, combine the vibrancy of whites with the depth of reds, while sparkling wines, like Trento DOC, with their fine, persistent perlage, are perfect for moments of celebratory elegance.

 

▪️Bardolino Chiaretto DOC

Fresh, aromatic, and versatile, perfect for summer but loved all year round: Chiaretto di Bardolino is the quintessential rosé wine of Lake Garda.

It's made from the same grapes as Bardolino—mainly Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara—but using a winemaking method that involves very brief contact between the must and the skins, which gives it its characteristic pale pink color. T his production style, known as rosé all'alpina, enhances the wine's freshness and fragrance, which stands out for its aromas of small red berries, floral notes, and a hint of spice.

It's a wine that combines the vibrancy of whites with the elegance of reds, capturing the landscape of Lake Garda in every sip.

💡 Ideal with aperitifs, summer cuisine, appetizers, seafood first courses, pizza, and sushi.

 

 
▪️Trento DOC

The Trento DOC designation is the crown jewel of Italian mountain sparkling wines, the first in Italy and among the very first in the world to receive recognition for the traditional method.

Officially established in 1993, yet with roots dating back to the early 20th century thanks to the vision of Giulio Ferrari, Trento DOC defines elegant bubbles produced exclusively through bottle refermentation—just like Champagne. Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, and Meunier are the permitted grape varieties, grown in high-altitude vineyards between 200 and 900 meters, where wide temperature swings impart freshness and aromatic finesse.

Trento DOC displays a fine, persistent perlage, fragrant aromas of bread crust and apple, and a structure that makes it perfect both for a refined aperitif and for pairing with an entire meal.

💡Ideal with aperitifs, appetizers, fish dishes, white meats, fresh and medium-aged cheeses.

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Dessert & Passito Wines

The perfect ending? Sweet, of course. The passito wines of Lake Garda, such as Recioto della Valpolicella or Recioto di Soave, capture intensity and softness in every sip.

 

▪️Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Made from the same grapes as Amarone—Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and other native varieties—this wine differs from its famous dry counterpart in its natural sweetness. The grapes are left to dry in fruit lofts for about 100–120 days; fermentation is then stopped before all the sugars are converted into alcohol, preserving the softness and sweetness that define it.

The result is an elegant wine with a deep red color, aromas of ripe red fruits, spices, and hints of cocoa. Recioto presents itself with a fairly intense ruby hue, its fragrance is equally pronounced, while the flavor—full and velvety—remains delicate and warm on the palate.

💡 Ideal with chocolate desserts, dry pastries, and blue cheeses.

 

▪️Recioto di Soave DOCG

Recioto di Soave is one of Italy's great dessert wines and the first in Veneto to receive the prestigious Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status.

It's made from carefully selected Garganega grapes that are left to dry for several weeks on racks or in crates in well-ventilated spaces. This process concentrates the sugars and aromas, resulting in a wine with a deep golden color and aromas of honey, candied fruit, and white flowers.

Produced in the hills of the Soave area, it's a sweet, elegant, and harmonious wine.

💡 Ideal with desserts, dry pastries, and blue cheeses.

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