A Taste of Lugana

I recently had a chance to explore the region of Lugana and the unique and diverse Turbiana grape. This is a region of white wines from Italy’s north shores and the geography, climate, diversity and winemaking practices create refreshing wines known for diversity and minerality.

The Lugana Wines We Tasted at the Destination Lugana Master Class

I was invited to a Destination Lugana Masterclass by the Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC given by Lorenzo Giappichelli, Professional Sommelier, featuring nine wines from Lugana.

The History

A Snapshot of Lugana, Photo Courtesy of Destination Lugana

Lugana is situated in the countryside in the south of Lake Garda bordering Veneto and Lombardy between the towns of Desenzano, Peschiera, Pozzolengo, and Sirmione. Lugana was originally known for being a swampland, but the Venetians deforested the land during the war.  The sunny slopes, clay and gravel soil containing minerality from ancient glaciers, and microclimate from Lake Garda bring to life the unique grape of Turbiana.

The Lugana Grape, Photo Courtesy of Destination Lugana

The Grape

Turbiana, an indigenous white grape variety previously known as Trebbiano di Lugana, is the only grape permitted in Lugana DOC wines. After years of work by dedicated winemakers in 1967, Lugana received its Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) certification ensuring the origin, quality, and production methods. These regulations guarantee specific vineyard practices, grape yields, vinification techniques, and aging requirements and Lugana was one of the first ten to receive