Cavalchina
It was Franco’s grandfather Luciano that planted the first vineyards and started making wine in 1948 after World War II. Lake Garda and the surrounding hills were cut by receding glaciers after the ice age, and the resulting morainic soils are excellent for the cultivation of grapes. In fact, it was the Hapsburgs who ruled this area prior to the unification of Italy that classified it as top notch land for vineyards. The cellar was built later and part of it was used as a distillery of grape marc till 1967. In 1962 Cavalchina was the first winery to call the white wine of this area (a blend of Fernanda, Trebbiano and Garganega grapes) “Custoza” and to sell it in Rome and in Milan. Today, brothers Franco and Luciano are at the helm of their grandfather’s estate, and their two Custoza whites left us speechless at VinItaly.
