The Dal Cero family moved to Ca’ dei Frati in 1939 and soon recognised the potential of the area for fine grape growing. The farm’s well-drained soil was deposited on the southern shore of Lake Garda by the same glacier that carved out Italy’s largest lake. This alluvial soil moderates the vines’ vigour, while the proximity to the lake mitigates hot summer temperatures, making it an ideal area for making one of Italy’s most attractive white wines.
Slowly, the family expanded their vineyard holdings while playing a key role in the creation of the Lugana DOC in the late 1960s. They are currently the largest vineyard owners in the denomination. This increase in quantity is matched by a rise in quality, and today Ca’ dei Frati is among the best producers in Lugana.
The quality of Ca’ dei Frati’s wines derives from the meticulous work carried out by the Dal Cero brothers: Franco in the vineyard and Igino in the winery. All the estate’s Lugana fruit is handpicked and directly pressed, without skin contact, to retain delicate perfumes and enhance the supple texture of the whites. Igino also inhibits malolactic fermentation for his white wines to give them a vibrant lift and favours a period of lees ageing post-fermentation to lend greater richness on the palate. This also contributes to a flintiness on the nose, which makes his wines almost Burgundian in character.
Their ‘Rosa dei Frati’ is made from a blend of Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera that results in a delicate pink wine perfectly suited to summer drinking on the shores of Lake Garda.
