Cà dei Frati, Ronchedone is a full-bodied red wine with a deep, dark hue and an intense, fruit-forward bouquet of ripe blueberries, cherries, jam, balsam and herbal notes. Its velvety tannins and fresh finish make it perfect for pairing with medium- to well-cooked red meats, game of feather and fur, aged cheeses, hearty pasta dishes and rich soups.

About the Producer

The Dal Cero family has transformed their Ca' dei Frati property, situated on the southern shores of Lake Garda, into a model Italian estate over the past two decades. Back in 1987, they had 12 hectares of vineyard but now, following the purchase of a large chunk of prime vineyard in 2008, they have over 160 hectares. This increase in quantity has been matched by an increase in quality and today they remain the best producer in Lugana.

Vineyard and Winery

The grapes are grown in the Dal Cero family's own vineyard, Ronchedone, which is located on the south bank of Lake Garda near the town of Sirmione. The vines for 'Ronchedone' are planted on chalky, limestone and sandy clay soils, using single Guyot and cordon training. The yields are around eight tonnes per hectare.

The grapes were picked by hand and carefully selected. Once at the winery, they underwent a prolonged maceration that lasted eight months in stainless-steel tanks before fermentation. Post fermentation, the wine was transferred to barriques for malolactic fermentation and then aged in a mixture of French and American oak (50% second use and the remaining third use) for 14 months. This was followed by a further 2 months ageing in bottle prior to release.