Company Profile
It was 1958 when some of the best wine growers located around the south-east of Lake Garda decided to join forces and create a cooperative in order to increase the value and awareness of the local wine production.
Today, the 250 plus members of the Cantina di Castelnuovo del Garda own and manage more than 1100 hectares of vineyards, all situated in the picturesque and hilly region to the South and East of Lake Garda. This area is made up of the DOC wines Bardolino, Custoza, Lugana, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and incorporates the towns and villages of Castelnuovo del Garda, Sandrà, Sona, San Giorgio in Salici, Palazzolo, Peschiera, Sommacampagna, Cavalcaselle, Colà, Lazise and Bardolino.

Castelnuovo del Garda

The Cantina produces more than 180,000 quintals (18 million kg's) of grapes per year, most of which are grown within the DOC classification. The remainder are destined for the production of IGT wines.
All the processes from the pressing of the grapes, vinification, ageing, etc. to eventual bottling are all carefully undertaken in the cantina, a property which now covers more than 20,000 square metres. Here can be found also the company wine shop, offering all the cantina's branded wines for direct sales to the consumer.
The Cantina di Castelnuovo del Garda brands are now known all over the World for the quality they represent.

The Territory
The town of Castelnuovo del Garda is situated on the morainic hills that slope towards the southern shores of Lake Garda. An ancient town close to verona, approximately 100 metres above sea level. In ancient times the town was home to "Umbri", shepherds devoted to the land and to weaving, and was also a transit stop for many populations, most notably Romans, who already in the 2nd Century AC constructed the first brickwork, a guard tower on the Monte Alto hill. This hill was destroyed in 1154 during the war with the "Barbarossa" and then was re-built as a small fortress under the name of "Castrum Novum", form which the actual denomination is derived.
The comune (district) of Castelnuovo del Garda, incorporating the sub-districts of Cavalcaselle, Oliosi, and Sandrà, is located in panoramic and beautiful countryside, full of character, valuable architecture and historic reminders.
Since ancient times, all this territory has been used for the growing of vines, today in particular for DOC Bardolino and Custoza wines. As far back as the beginning of the 900's, the region was renowned for the production of high quality wines, with the appellation of "Castelnuovo" being the extra guarantee.
The grape varieties of this region include;
PINOT GRIGIO - CHARDONNAY - CORVINA - CORVINONE - RONDINELLA - MOLINARA - NEGRARA - GARGANEGA - TREBBIANO - TREBBIANELLO - CORTESE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON - MERLOT

2007 Harvest Report
Our 2007 vintage harvested from our members vineyards, located on the eastern hills of Lake Garda, will be remembered as an exceptional year.
The beginning of a mild Spring with above average temperatures induced an early sprouting of the vines by around 15 - 20 days, which now looking back, proved significant in all of the phenological phases and caused an early maturing.
The fact that no cold climatic conditions returned, resulting in perfect and favourable conditions for the vines, meant an optimal vegetative cycle: May and June with ideal temperatures and rainfall; July with intense sunny conditions and little rain (not a problem by using irrigation methods where necessary); and August and September with very little rainfall that provided an ideal maturation and a harvest without any kind of problems.
From a sanitary point of view, the ideal way the season progressed was, fortunately for us, most unkind to the common types of fungus that can harm the vines, which allowed for an easy and beneficial control. There was a problem with the influx of potentially harmful insects. However these were easily controlled by normal and safe procedures.
All the above ensured a perfect quality of grapes and healthy harvest, with a higher than average sugar content and colouring (for the red wines). As a result of these elements, the vinification process occurred without any sort of problem.
Our white wines are notably aromatic, full of intensity and complexity, with a full and elegant structure.
The excellent phenolic maturation of the red grapes ensure an intense colour, excellent and stable, with strong and intense aromatic characteristics. They are wines with an immense structure and softness.
We are certainly proud to say that the 2007 vintage of the wines from The Cantina di Castelnuovo del Garda is one of the best in our 50 year history.
Andrew Bettini - Sales Manager

Wine Awards
RECENT AWARDS
The Cantina di Castelnuovo del Garda has been awarded many prestigious prizes recently for a variety of the wines within the large portfolio available; proof of the phylosophy of the company; "to offer high quality wines at good value for money".
One of these awards includes the recent Gold Medal and the extra "Veneto Più" for our Bardolino DOC Chiaretto Classico 2007 Ca'Vegar, having received the highest number of points out of all the Veneto rosé wines presented at The "Mostra Nazionale Vini Pramaggiore" 2008.