Valtènesi
Located in Northern Italy, the region hugs the western shore of Lake Garda on the Lombardia side.
Lake Garda is the largest freshwater lake in Italy.
Formed by shifting tectonic plates and glaciers migrating south, the lake is 346 meters at its deepest point and spans 370 square kilometers.
From north to south, it runs 52 kilometers and is 17 kilometers at its widest point.
Its edges wash ashore in Veneto to the southeast, Trentino-Alto Adige to the northeast, and Lombardia to the west.
This large body of water deeply affects the climate of the region.
It sits in a place so far inland, that the climate would typically be continental, cold in the winter, hot in the summer.
But here, this expansive body of water helps moderate the climate, making winter not as cold and summer not as hot.
Valtenèsi is known for the indigenous grape Gropello that they make into a rosé-style wine they call Chiaretto.
Gropello is the primary grape, but it may be blended with Marzemino, Barbera, and/or Sangiovese.
After our morning at Vittoriale …we headed south along the lake past olive trees, climbing higher and further from the lake giving us expansive views.
We arrive at Villa Galnica, the Valtenesi House of Wine, where the Consorzio has its offices and a tasting room to showcase the beautiful Chiaretto roses that they make in the region.
We enter through the cobblestone patio, which was set up for lunch for us.
But first, we were greeted by Alessandro Luzzago who was at the time President of the Consorizio Valtènesi Riviera del Garda.
Before us, multiple tables were lined up with Chiarettos from all the producers in the Consorzio.
There were 53 of these beautiful rosés for us to sample.
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