The northern Italian wine territory of the Garda DOC is located in the hills and valleys surrounding the picturesque Lake Garda. Lake Garda was formed when an Ice Age-era glacier occupying the area receded. The departure of this glacier also left behind morainic (south and west) and limestone (east) rich soil ideal for producing fresh and crisp, fruit, mineral, and saline-driven sparkling, white, and rose’, bright, round, and vibrant red, and elegant and delightfully sweet passito wines. The Garda DOC has 10 denominations between Lombardy and the Veneto.
| Valtenesi |
| San Martino della Battaglia |
| Lugana |
| Colli Mantovani |
| Custoza |
| Bardolino |
| Valpolicella |
| Valdadige |
| Durello |
| Soave |
The sub-Mediterranean climate, cooled twice daily by breezes coming off Lake Garda, is characterized by plenty of sun, warm summers, cold winters, and average annual precipitation.
The terroir is ideal for growing the eight permitted varietals of the Garda DOC.
| White Grapes | Red Grapes |
| Garganega | Corvina |
| Trebbiano di Lugana and Trebbiano di Soave | Marzemino |
| Chardonnay | Merlot |
| Pinot Grigio | Cabernet Sauvignon |
Approximately 250 producers and cooperatives have 31,100 hectares under vine, with 27, 888 hectares distributed in Verona and 3,211 hectares in Mantua and Brescia. The varied terroir and wide range of permitted varietals within the Garda DOC allow producers to craft wines that reflect their interpretations of the grapes and soil through different flavor expressions. Nevertheless, the quintessential Garda DOC white wine is fresh and crisp, with tantalizing acidity, minerality, and salinity, and bursting with citrus, orchard, and tropical fruit flavors.
| Spumante | Chardonnay, *Garganega, *Pinot Grigio, and/or *Trebbiano (50%+) | Other native grapes |
| Pinot Grigio Spumante | Pinot Grigio (85%+) | Other permitted white varietals |
| Rosato Spumante | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Corvina, Merlot, Pinot Nero (50%+) | Other permitted varietals |
*Typically used to produce sparkling Garda DOC wines using the Charmat method.
| *Pinot Grigio (85%+) | Other permitted white varietals |
*Most Garda Pinot Grigio DOC are crafted using 100% Pinot Grigio
Garda Pinot Grigio DOC is usually vinified in stainless steel tanks to highlight the grape’s inherent freshness, acidity, minerality, and vibrant citrus, orchard, tropical fruit, and nutty flavors.
| Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano di Soave, Trebbiano di Toscano (50%+) | Non-aromatic white or red (vinified as white) permitted grapes |
| Garda Rosso Cabernet DOC | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Carmenère (85%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
| Garda Rosso Marzemino DOC | Marzemino (85%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
| Garda Rosso Merlot DOC | Merlot (85%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
| Garda Rosso DOC | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Corvina, Merlot, and/or Pinot Nero (50%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
| Garda Rosso Corvina DOC | Corvina (85%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
| Garda Rosso Pinot Nero DOC | Pinot Nero (85%+) | Other permitted red grapes |
Wine brand ambassador and educator Susannah Gold presented ten meticulously curated wines at San Carlo Osteria Piemonte in SoHo, New York City. They were paired with five delectable courses at a convivial and informative lunch that attested to the adaptability of Garda DOC wines to a diverse range of dishes.
A trio of traditional method sparkling wines including a Cantine Virgili, “Montaldo Bollicine Brut,” Garda DOC Spumante Metodo Classico Brut, NV blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, an Azienda Agricola Baroldi Diego Garda DOC Spumante Extra Brut Metodo Classico NV Blanc de Blancs, and an Azienda Agricola Pratello, “Alba Rosa” Garda DOC Spumante Metodo Classico Rose’ Brut blend of Groppello and Merlot was served with a first course of assorted cured meats. The refreshing acidity, minerality, and salinity of the three crisp, fruit-driven spumantes were perfect complements for these tender and savory meat selections.
Three Pinot Grigio including a Cantine Vitevis Ca Vegar, (Cantina Veronese del Garda) Garda DOC Pinot Grigio, 2023, a Cadis (Cantine di Soave) 1868, Terre al Lago, Pinot Grigio Garda DOC, Le Follate, 2023, and an Azienda Agricola Prendina, Pinot Grigio Garda DOC, 2023 accompanied creamy truffle and fontina arancini. The bright citrus and orchard fruit character of these fresh, mineral and saline-driven wines balanced this delightfully rich and aromatically pungent dish.
Three Garda Bianco DOP including a Tinazzi, “Ca Dei Rocchi,” Garda DOC Bianco, 2023 blend of Garganega, Trebbiano, and Chardonnay, a Cesari “Centofilari”, Garda DOC Bianco, 2023 blend of Garganega and Chardonnay, and a Santa Sofia, Garda DOC Bianco, 2023 blend of white varietals were paired with shitake mushroom and pecorino tagliatelle. The brightness and vibrant citrus, orchard, and tropical fruit character of these elegant white wines presented a delectable contrast to the earthiness of this dish.
A trio of Garda Rosso DOC including an Azienda Agricola Sansonina, Garda Rosso DOC, 2020 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, an Azienda Agricola Pratello, Nero Per Sempre, Garda Rosso DOC, 2019 containing 100% Rebo, and a Cantine di Custoza, Val Dei Molini, Garda Corvina DOC, 2020 comprising 100% Corvina was presented with a grilled skirt steak and roasted purple potatoes. The ripe berry and dark stone fruit, chocolate, and soft spice elements of these smooth and round red wines enhanced the inherently hearty flavors of this main course.
A delightfully silky, delicately floral, and candied orchard and fruit-driven Cantine di Verona “Tribula” Passito, Garda Bianco DOC, 2020 made with 100% Garganega paired seamlessly with the delicately tart flavors of a lemon sorbet dessert.
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