Lugana: Where every sip tells a story
By Kristen Oliveri
In Lugana, Italy wine isn’t just a drink; it’s family, history, and legacy. Along the southern shores of Lake Garda, 220 family vineyards are united by a single grape: Turbiana. Each glass carries generations of passion, poured into every sip.
Between the hills and the plains, Lugana’s vineyards are shaped by lake breezes and clay-rich soil. The wines reflect this landscape, lively yet smooth, precise yet expressive, a perfect balance between nature and nurture. Made from the indigenous Turbiana grape, they evolve beautifully with time, much like the families who tend to them.
At Le Morette, three generations of the Zenato family work side by side. “The secret lies in the microclimate,” says Fabio Zenato, “and in the breeze that gives each bottle its movement.” Nearby at Tenuta Roveglia, they believe you only truly know Lugana when you feel the clay beneath your boots, dense, demanding, and generous. One of the family’s stewards, Babettli Azzone, who was once an architect, redesigned their iconic door herself. “They had a dream,” she said. “And that dream became mine.”
At Selva Capuzza, winemaker Luca Formentini honors his family’s 45-year legacy while embracing experimentation. He’s exploring natural winemaking and invites open dialogue, the same curiosity he hopes every wine inspires. Guests who stay on the property join cooking classes that preserve family recipes passed down from grandmothers to chefs.
Elsewhere, families at Corte Sermana and Ca’ Lojera have turned from growing grapes for others to crafting their own wines. Their next generation is defining identity through craftsmanship and care. At Ca’ Lojera, vines planted by hand in 1989 still thrive, and the family matriarch’s spirit remains rooted in the soil she once tended.
At Cobue Winery, wine meets wellness in the most beautiful of ways. This family-run agriturismo pairs a solar-powered cellar with a handful of elegant rooms and even a thermal spa including Turkish baths and a Finnish sauna. One evening spent here, soaking in the warmth surrounded by vines, revealed what true abundance means: balance, connection, and gratitude. The venue created a wellness farm, where you can regenerate and treat yourself to real moments of relaxation. For those looking for a moment of rest between tastings and tours, Cobue offers a place to recharge while being prepared to feed and taste once again when you’re ready.
San Martino Tower della Battaglia, a monument to Italy’s unification in the countryside south of Sirmione, is another spot not to be missed. This monument celebrates those who lost their lives fighting for Italy’s independence and unification. Inside, the preserved remains of fallen soldiers remind visitors that this land’s beauty is built upon resilience and sacrifice.
Beyond the incredible historical significance, the experience is a breathtaking place to visit, see and take countless photos of expansive views of Lake Garda.
The town of Sirmione is a place that feels lifted from a dream. Its cobblestone streets, pastel houses, and lake views tell stories of another time. Try a Michelin-starred dinner at La Rucola 2.0, where every dish and every wine pairing is a celebration of the region that weaves history and hospitality into every experience.
In Lugana, everything connects, the land, the wine, the families, and the dreams they keep alive. Here, wealth isn’t measured in possessions but in what you nurture. Because when a place pours its soul into every drop, you don’t just taste it, you feel it.