Gamma Import & Co.

It is popular tourist destination in summer, but Lake Garda is for wine lovers too. Lago di Garda, Lake Garda in English, is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Surrounded by the Dolomite mountains it has clear waters and beautiful vistas. It is the shape of a tear drop, and the largest lake in Italy. That means more places to see, things to do, and (almost unknowingly) more wines to drink. The really cool thing about Lake Garda is it is located in 3 provinces, all having very different wine regions. The 3 provinces; Trentino (in the North), Veneto (East), and Lombardia (West), each region with very different local wines. The beautiful thing about Lake Garda is you have these unique wines available to you, all with the lake as a common denominator, so here I have put together tips from my experience as a wine lovers guide to Lake Garda, getting the most from its unique location. 

Firstly, why is the lake special? It has a unique climate offering healthy growth to a more Mediterranean type of vegetation, including olive and citrus trees that a mere 20km away wouldn’t do well. The particular shape of the lake formed by the valleys surrounding it, give way to timely winds each day and the lake has become very famous for sailing. These qualities also influence the surrounding wine regions, and the varieties they grow. 

The lake is an easy getaway to beautiful scenery, when you are travelling to and from its surrounding cities (Milan or Verona being the closest), or from your adventure hiking in the North parts of Trentino. 

With so many surrounding wine regions, a wine lover is sure to have a nice array of options at hand,  but it can also be overwhelming, so I am here to break down key wines to look for and really taste what the surrounding regions have to offer! For all wine lovers in Italy, we know that drinking locally means trying wines that you may not ever find again, so this is your opportunity at Lake Garda to try some very interesting wines from the surrounding regions.

The Northern part of the lake is located in Trentino. While “famous” for other zones, the climate and vineyards in Trentino near Lake Garda yield a very different type of growth. It can be interesting to try these wines from Southern Trentino against more northern wines of Trentino Alto-Adige. Nevertheless, don’t miss the opportunity to try some wines from Trentino while at the lake and looking for a local refreshment. 

A crisp white from Trentino: Nosiola – which is grown in two specific areas of Trentino, one of which borders Lake Garda in “Valle dei Laghi” (near Toblino just North). Nosiola is a very tenderly grown white grape producing dry white wines but also the very special “Vino Santo” an incredibly unique sweet wine or “passito” in Italian. A dry Nosiola would be a perfect (and local) pairing for your lake fish at lunch! 

A light (indigenous) red: Marzemino – this dry, ruby red wine, native to Trentino is a perfect delicate wine for you aperitvo or dinner. It has been said that the wine was shouted out by Mozart giving it even more personality. This wine is often thought of as delicate but with a full body. The Marzemino Trentino DOC region is in “Vallagarina” in the rural areas surrounding Rovereto. On your way to Lake Garda you will pass vineyards flanking you on your drive off the highway from Rovereto to Riva (sul Garda). 

If you are a bubble lover, a TrentoDOC is always a good idea. Made in a Metodo Classico style, the grapes must be grown in Trentino, you will find examples from throughout the province, but many producers are within 30km of the lake, definitely a local speciality.

You can check out this blog post in more detail about 3 wines to not miss while in Trentino.

Continuing on, the SE part of the lake is the province of Veneto. 

Looking for an interesting white from Veneto? Lugana – a bold, crisp, DOC, full of personality, and comes from the south shores of the lake. Travelling slightly south along the shore of Lake Garda, you will find the Lugana wine area. Made from grapes “Trebbiano di Lugana” that enologists now believe is a distinct indigenous grape variety. The really cool thing about this wine is that it is grown close to the very beautiful (and touristy) Sirmione, which is an ellipses straight out into the lake at the southern end. Perfect for an afternoon of wine tasting after a morning visiting the town. 

More in the mood for a local red? Carmenere – a medium bodied red wine coming from an area with a DOC “Carmenere Colli Berici” with a very interesting history. You may have heard of this grape with associations to South America (Chile) but it has been found, once thought extinct, after extensive DNA testing in the 90’s, that it still resides in both Chile and North-Eastern Italy. This area, halfway between Padova and Verona seems to be a thriving home for this particular grape, located an hour east of Peschiera del Garda. 

Fruity, berry aromas, with a great minerality, this is great for a red wine lover even in summer. And even better, a day trip to the infamous hills so special for this varietal. Search “Berici Hills” if looking in English to plan your travel itinerary. 

Wines from from Lombardia in South West?

Chiaretto (light red wine) Valténesi (Garda DOC) 

Valténesi can produce either a spicy red or a Rosato (rosé) wine, which is what Chiaretto means. This wine is produced from the grape Groppello, indigenous to the area, but for the DOC only requires 50%, which leaves room for great expression from the winemakers. It is grown on hills between Desenzano and Salò on the west side of Lake Garda. This is a particularly interesting area to visit wineries because of the pebbly soils, mix of vegetation, and rich Etruscan history. 

Looking for sparkling from Lombardia? Franciacorta is definitely your go to. The Franciacorta DOCG zone is located between the cities of Brescia and Bergamo, half an hour west of Lake Garda. Franciacorta has boomed in popularity over the last ten years, making a superb name for itself. It is made in the Traditional Method, allowing secondary fermentation to occur in the bottle. These wines are produced mainly of Chardonnay grapes, with at least 18 months on the lees in the bottle, and released no earlier than 25 months from harvest.

There are a million activities to partake in around Garda. While it can be a beach or boating vacation, you will also find biking, hiking, windsurfing near Torbole, sailing from Riva, strolling around quaint towns like Malcesine, but also great shopping and touristing in towns like Sirmione, and Desanzano. It’s a beautiful place to spend most of your time on vacation relaxing, while able to take day trips in different directions. In my opinion, 6 days on Lake Garda is perfect. Two day trips to visit wineries in different directions, one day driving the lake and stopping in small towns, and two days relaxing or hiking. Don’t miss the “Busatte Tempesta” which boasts incredible panoramic views of the lake! If you like to drive, doing a whole tour around the lake is a unique experience with so many cute towns to stop for lunch.

While you are there, be sure to enjoy fresh lake fish, lemons and olives from the area, and all the speciality meats and cheese of the surrounding regions, and most importantly: the incredibly unique wine lovers situation you’re in – this lake is truly one of a kind!