Zenato Lugana San Benedetto

Trebbiano di Lugana from the southern shore of Lake Garda — a grape variety that is hardly known outside the region, but immediately impresses in the glass: floral, fresh, with a spicy depth that many white wines in this price range do not achieve.

Zenato is one of the wineries that helped establish Lugana as a distinct appellation. Sergio Zenato has consistently focused on Trebbiano di Lugana since the 1960s, a time when most producers in the region were not yet striving for their own identity. The vineyards around the San Benedetto site benefit from the mild microclimate of Lake Garda and the clay-rich soils, which give the variety its characteristic mineral structure.

In the glass, the San Benedetto displays bright straw-yellow hues. The nose offers aromas of acacia blossom, white peach, and a hint of fennel. On the palate, it is smooth with lively acidity that keeps the wine fresh despite its softness. The finish is medium-long and slightly spicy—a sign of the grape quality, not of oak aging.

• Dishes: Pike-perch fillet with caper butter, grilled seafood, risotto alla Milanese or light chicken salad with fresh herbs
• Temperature: 10–12 °C
• Drinking window: drink now, not designed for long-term storage