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Doc Garda: instructions for use

by Sissi Baratella 07/22/22
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Garda doc

Vademecum to orient yourself within the Garda appellation of origin, which covers a wide range of varieties and types.

A few simple instructions are enough to understand what the Garda DOC is. It is not complicated, but to understand this appellation it is essential to follow the various steps since its inception in order.

Recommendation
First let us make it clear that when you approach Garda Doc wines you are not inevitably going to drink a "Lake Garda wine," or at least not necessarily. The name may initially mislead you, but to think this would be reductive towards the appellation itself. The Garda DOC, in fact, was created by tracing the profile of as many as 10 historic DOCs, some bordering the lake and some not. 

Doc, soils and climate

These Docs extend over three provinces, from west to east from Garda, totaling 31,100 hectares, of which 1,800 are claimed as Doc Garda. The provinces are that of Verona, most represented with 27,889 hectares, and then those of Brescia and Mantua. The historic appellations involved are: Riviera Valtenesi, Lugana, San Martina della Battaglia, Colli Mantovani, Custoza, Bardolino, Valdadige Terradeiforti, Valpolicella, Soave, Monti Lessini. 
 
It seems clear that we cannot always talk about wines from the Lake. For while it is true that Riviera Valtenesi and Lugana, just to name a couple, indeed feel strongly the proximity of that enormous body of water; it is also true that denominations such as Monti Lessini or Valpolicella will feel different influences as dominant. This is as far as theory is concerned; in practice we can also say that most of the vineyards of the Garda DOC are on soils of a morainic nature, a direct consequence of the formation of the Lake of glacial origin. 
 
The climate can also be summarized in a definition, it is Temperate Subcontinental climate. Thus a kind of continental climate with some Mediterranean influence but NOT Mediterranean. In fact, the Mediterranean climate is indeed temperate but also characterized by really significant summer drought periods. With a drought that in this area, fortunately, is not easily reached, even in so-called drought years (sorry for the repetition and the apparent contradiction).
 
Origins
The DOC was born back in 1996; from that year we can speak of a voluntary Consortium, the project in fact "reborn" in 2015 when the Protection Consortium received ministerial recognition and, as a first consequence, a new production specification was approved the following year. Thus we arrive today with a denomination that can only continue to grow, with 250 vertical producers and cooperatives using the designation and 20 million bottles, and rising, of wine produced. 
 
What are Garda Doc wines
If I buy Garda Doc what wine am I buying? The answer is not obvious, as different types of labels fall under the big Garda umbrella. 
 
Wanting to simplify, we can say that they are, in terms of still wines, mostly white and red monovarietals, but there are also blends and blends. There is also no shortage of sparkling categories both bottle-refermented, white and rosé, and autoclaved, white only.  
 
The main varieties involved are the same as in the historic appellations, of course, but also varieties, often international, that are not fully covered by the specifications of the pre-existing DOCs. The permitted monovarietals are: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon, Cortese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Corvina. Müller Thurgau and Rebo will also be added with a further amendment. For still monovarietals, it is planned that the variety may be mentioned on the label. So to answer the question "what am I buying?" the answer is: what you find on the label. 
 
Slightly different discussion for sparkling wines, where the grape variety does not appear, but it could appear. In fact, the possibility of including, only for the classic method, the grape variety on the label if it is in purity is being approved. 
 
What the Garda Doc is for.
The Garda Doc serves to give a worthy and controlled collocation to all those grape varieties, which perhaps have historically always been present in the territory, but which did not have a reference Doc. This umbrella Doc then is also a safety net, apt to sustain, recover and ennoble. In essence, a good part of what used to be Igt wines can now boast of a Doc, as long as they clearly comply with its production specifications and relevant restrictions. 
 
Why "Garda Doc?"
Why call the designation Garda if sometimes Garda is not? Because Lake Garda is capable of generating suggestions, sensations, emotions. Word of Carlo Alberto Panont, director, and Paolo Fiorini, president of the Consortium. The brightness of the body of water, the varied scenery, the history, and the unmistakable holiday mood that distinguishes it are the elements that inspired the birth of this appellation dedicated to it. It just needs time to grow and become known, and I hope this article can help do that. 

Perla del Garda

Garda Metodo Classico Cuvée Extra Brut

92/100 - € 20,00 

100% Chardonnay. Metodo Classico. Extra Brut. Acciaio. Minimo 20 mesi. Giallo dorato. Al naso note croccanti e tese; nocciola tostata e un preannunciare di sapidità. Salato anche al palato finisce profondo con note di bergamotto. 


Pratello

Garda Metodo Classico Donna Caterina 

91/100 - € 21,00

95% Chardonnay, 5% Erbamat. Metodo Classico, 36 mesi. Brut. Giallo paglierino leggero. Perlage sottile. Al naso note di fermentazione e di fiori bianchi con accenni verticali. Al palato continua con sensazioni aggrumate e un’ottima spinta acida. 




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