The vineyards of Bardolino, on the shores of Lake Garda
Roads lined with bougainvillaea and olive trees, Lake Garda reflecting the evening sun: this timeless landscape forms the backdrop for the celebrated wines of the Bardolino region. Spanning 2,550ha of vineyards, Bardolino is a region situated in western Veneto, located on the southeastern shore of Lake Garda.
With the Adige river valley and the Monte Baldo range to the north, soils here are sedimentary and gravel- based, the product of glacial deposits. A historic area for winemaking, Bardolino has built a reputation for red and rosato styles produced from permitted varieties Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Corvinone and Molinara.
Ray O’Connor MW points out that although Bardolino ‘is not new to the world of wine, the quality and style of its wines perfectly suit what a lot of the market is looking for today: lighter and fresher reds as well as premium, elegant rosés. The region has the benefit of a stunning lake and surroundings for people to appreciate the wines.’
Bardolino is also a key location for wine tourism, from the immersive journey through winemaking history offered at Cantina Zeni to local lakeside cuisine at restaurants such as Taverna Kus and Affi Wine Bar.
The following small selection is only a snapshot of what the Bardolino region – with around 100 producers, from small, family-run businesses to large-scale wineries – has to offer.
Bardolino DOC & Bardolino Classico DOCG
The celebrated reds of Lake Garda (DOC established in 1968) are
