by Federica Benedetti for Lugana Wines
Lugana is the first wine of Lombardia to become registered as a DOC in 1967. The Lugana vineyards extend from Lake Garda to the first Moraine hills in the north and the area enjoys an almost Mediterranean microclimate that is beneficial to viticulture. The lake plays a part in this unique microclimate. One of Europe’s largest bodies of water, Lake Garda, helps temper the temperature in the north, and lemon, almond and olive trees flourish on its banks. Here winegrowers have been faithful to their native variety: Turbiana.
The Turbiana grape is the essential varietal in the area’s white wines. It’s success comes from the zone’s calcareous clay soils, rich in mineral salts that help the fruit obtain ripeness and complexity. The wines are frequently acknowledged for their balance, structure and fragrance, and are characterized by fruit concentration along with underlying floral and spice notes tempered with delicate acidity.
“These are high-quality white wines with great acid structure and aromatics, graceful and elegant, with the capacity to age. Lugana’s wines are renowned for their precision and purity of flavor. These are high-quality white wines with great acid structure and aromatics, graceful and elegant, with the capacity to age,” says Consorzio’s President Luca Formentini. The Superiore and Riserva wines are some of the fullest-bodied examples from the region.
Lugana wine is in high demand worldwide. Of the 16 million bottles produced annually, 80% are exported, mainly to Germany, USA, Belgium, UK, Northern Europe and Japan. “We started travelling the world with our Lugana wines 20 years ago,” says Carlo Veronese. “Luigi Veronelli, Italy’s greatest wine critic at the time, was a supportive advocate for Lugana. The wines, like the name, have become popular with many German consumers visiting Lake Garda and beyond, but now the USA is our second largest export market.”
[…] Source: Wine Blogger Conference Exploring the Wines of Lugana […]