Experience the refreshing taste of Monte Zovo, Le Civaie 'Terralbe' Lugana. With a straw yellow colour and greenish highlights, this wine boasts notes of tropical and citrus fruits, white pepper, and mineral notes alongside aromatic herbs. Its delicious and well-balanced taste pairs perfectly with starters, fresh-water fish, pasta dishes, and more. Enjoy at 10° - 12°C.

Critic Review

Decanter Magazine: 92Pts
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2028

"Fresh citrus aromas with herbaceous grass and wildflowers on the nose. Yellow apples and Williams pear with citrus and flinty mineral notes. Shows ripeness and richness, with good structure and a clean finish."
Susan Hulme MW, Vincenzo Arnese, Sara Bachiorri

JancisRobinson.com: 16.5Pts
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2026

"Pineapples and dried thyme on the nose. White peaches and green-stone-fruit acidity, prettily laced with dried herbs. Toward the finish, a curd/cream-cheese richness from the lees ageing."
Tamlyn Currin

About the Producer

The Cottini family business was founded by Carlo Cottini in 1925 and was dedicated to
the cultivation of vines and fruit trees. However, it was during the 1950s when Carlo’s
son Raffaello took over and focussed purely on viticulture, that the company took a
crucial leap forward. In 1990, third generation Diego Cottini established Montezovo and
became the principal winemaker at the winery. Le Civaie is their family-owned estate
located in the picturesque region of Lugana in Northern Italy. The vineyards cover two
different areas of the Lugana D.O., one in the municipality of Pozzolengo and the other
in Desenzano. The entire estate is cultivated sustainably and is certified by ‘Biodiversity
Friend’, SQNPI and Equalitas. The family philosophy is to fully showcase the
characteristics and heritage of this distinctive terroir, which Diego undoubtedly
achieves, producing stunning, mineral wines which are fresh, expressive, and full of
finesse.

Vineyard and Winery

The Lugana DOC is greatly influenced by Lake Garda, whose warm breezes contribute
to an ideal climate due to its mildness and low diurnal thermal excursions. The local
variety, Turbiana, flourishes in this microclimate. The grapes come from two different
plots within the Lugana DOC, which results in a wine of complexity and balance. 70% of
the fruit comes from a vineyard in Pozzolengo, where the vines are planted on gentle
morainic hills at around 100 metres. The soil in this hilly terrain is made up of sandy clay
with good presence of gravel which imparts bright aromatics and a fresh, natural
acidity. The remaining 30% comes from the flat vineyards in Desenzano, where the soil is
made up of sedimentary clay, mostly of calcareous origin and is rich in minerals. These
grapes imbue the wine with structure and distinctive minerality. The Guyot-trained vines
are planted at a density of 5,000 vines per hectare. The entire estate is sustainably
cultivated and certified. The name ‘Terralba’ comes from the fusion of terra (land) and
alba (sunrise) and translate as ‘ the lands of the colour of dawn’.

The bunches were immediately chilled to 5° C before being transferred to the winery.
The grapes were destemmed, crushed and macerated for eight to 10 hours. Gentle
pressing in an oxygen reductive environment was followed by must clarification in inert
vats. Stainless-steel fermentation took place at 14-16°C, lasting for 15 to 20 days and the
wine remained on its fine lees for five months, with a further two months in bottle.