Rosa dei Frati
Cellar for up to 4 years. Serve chilled. This gorgeous pale pink rosé is composed of classic indigenous varieties including Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera grown close to the shores of Lake Garda. Fruit is sourced from two estate vineyards, 'I Frati' in Sirmione and 'La Tur' in Desenzano, which have top quality chalky, sand and lime soils. In the winery the must is macerated on the skins for a short period to extract colour before being vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks to lock in vibrancy and natural flavours from the grapes. The nose opens with enchanting notes of redcurrants, cherries and ripe strawberries while the first sip reveals a vibrant, refreshing acidity, light body and clean finish. The lively flavour profile makes this great to serve as an aperitif by the pool or in the garden. It also pairs really well with salmon, roasted chicken and fish dishes served in a creamy sauce. Ca dei Frati has been owned by the Dal Cero family for generations, although the property itself dates back to at least 1782. Over the past couple of decades the family have devoted themselves to expanding the estate and improving quality. They now work around 160 hectares of vines and are considered the top producer in all of Lugana.
Brolettino Lugana
Cellar for up to 6 years. Serve chilled. This unusual Italian white is crafted from the Turbiana grape, a variety that is little known outside its homeland of Lugana along the southern banks of Italy’s famous Lake Garda. Thought to be related to Verdicchio grape, the variety typically produces charming tropical pineapple, mandarin orange and bitter almond notes along with hints of rose petals. Ca dei Frati harvests the grapes for this wine in the middle of October from vines which were planted in 1971. The young wine is then vinified in stainless steel tanks and matured in oak barrels for 10 months before bottling. The result is an opulent, creamy-textured wine with attractive ripe stone fruit notes complemented by vanilla and honey from the barrel maturation. The intense flavour profile makes this a great partner for roast chicken, creamy fish dishes, and aged cheeses. The earliest reference to Ca dei Frati dates back to 1782, but the modern winery was founded in 1939 by Felice Dal Cero who realised the area’s exceptional viticultural potential. Over the past couple of decades the Del Cero family have transformed the winery into Lugana’s top producer. They create crisp, characterful whites from typical local varieties as well as elegant, well-balanced reds from the family’s 200 hectares of estate vineyards.
I Frati weiß
Cellar for up to 4 years. Serve chilled. The history of Ca dei Frati dates back at least as far as 1782 with the modern day winery established here in 1939 by Felice Dal Cero on the southerly shores of Lake Garda. The same family still runs the winery today and in recent years they have focused on revitalising and expanding the property. The size of the property has grown from 12 hectares of vineyards back in 1987 to over 160 hectares today. Quality has also increased significantly, and Ca dei Frati is now considered Lugana’s finest producer. This characterful white wine is made from the local Turbiana grape which is virtually unknown outside of its Lake Garda homeland. It is reputed to be related to the famous Verdicchio variety and tends to produce attractive white wines with hints of tropical fruit and floral notes. In the winery the must is fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatics. The young wine is then aged on the lees for six months to add extra complexity and texture. The result is a vibrant, lively wine with enticing honeysuckle, pineapple and citrus notes and a very clean and pure finish. A great wine to serve as an aperitif or an accompaniment to fish, seafood or summer salads.
