Ronchedone Rosso

Where Lake Garda flattens out to the south, in Lugana di Sirmione lies the winery that has given the town its name: Cà dei Frati – the “House of the Monks”.

The name says it all: The estate was first documented in 1782 , when it served as vineyard land for Carmelite monks . In 1939, the Dal Cero family put down roots here – laying the foundation for one of the most influential winemaking stories in Northern Italy.

It was Pietro Dal Cero who spearheaded the recognition of the Lugana DOC , which was awarded in 1967. His wine "I Frati" became the benchmark – and one of the most famous white wines in Northern Italy.

Today, his three children run the business in the third generation : Gian Franco looks after the vineyards, Igino manages the cellar, Anna Maria is responsible for sales – three perspectives, one common goal.

Its foundation is the Turbiana grape variety, grown on the calcareous moraine soils on the southern shore of Lake Garda. From this grape emerges the unmistakable Lugana style: mineral, clear, and long-lasting – driven by the conviction that tradition and state-of-the-art cellar technology are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.

What does that mean for your glass? Wines with provenance, precision, and the quiet self-confidence of a family estate that knows exactly where it comes from.