DOC area for red wines and rosé wines in the west of the Italian region of Veneto. The area between the south-east shore of Lake Garda and the Adige River includes the municipalities of Affi, Bardolino, Bussolengo, Caprino Veronese, Castelnuovo del Garda, Cavaion Veronese, Costermano, Garda, Lazise, Pastrengo, Peschiera del Garda, Rivoli Veronese, Sommacampagna, Sona, Torri del Benaco and Valeggio sul Mincio in the province of Verona. The wines of the core area with the municipalities of Affi, Bardolino, Cavaion Veronese, Costermano, Garda and Lazise may also be labelled Classico. The vineyards cover a total of over 2,800 hectares of vines.
Climate & soil
The climate is mild and strongly characterised by the nearby Lake Garda, whose large expanse of water balances out temperature peaks; typical winds are the Ora (afternoon south wind from the lake) and the Pelèr or Sover (cool north wind in the morning hours), which ensure good ventilation and keep the vines dry. The summers are warm, the winters comparatively mild, with moderate rainfall, and the soils consist mainly of glacial moraine deposits (deposited by glaciers) with proportions of gravel, sand and limestone, sometimes also clay, and are well drained. This favours elegant, fruit-driven wines with a moderate structure when vinified appropriately.
