Lugana and the Turbiana grape
Our vineyards are in San Benedetto di Lugana, in the village of Peschiera del Garda, and in the Broglie and Busocaldo areas. Slightly less than ten hectares of clay where we grow exclusively the local white Turbiana vine. Originated from an ancient land with its remarkable clay soil, the autochthonous white grape Trebbiano di Lugana is locally called Turbiana, genetically similar to Verdicchio, related to the great Trebbiano family and perfectly adapted to the clay that houses it with the particular microclimate of Lake Garda.
It is made up of medium-sized bunches, not too productive, well resistant to grape pests and characterized by a late ripening.
Thanks to its acid content, it produces a wine with great vitality and longevity, rich in nuances and personality.
Valtènesi and the Groppello grape
Our vineyards around Cascina San Giovanni and our winery, in Raffa di Puegnago, cover about 15 hectares of loose and permeable soils, with a rich structure, of morainic origin; Cap del Priù and Villa Romana vineyards were among the first crus to be cultivated in the mid-seventies, mainly with Groppello and Marzemino grapes.
Another 12 hectares are but a few kilometers further south, in Picedo di Polpenazze, cultivated since the early nineties, with the best clones of Groppello in the Arzane cru, along with other local grapes and two hectares of Rhine Riesling. Our Valtènesi is a special land – echoing ancient ice and Mediterranean exposure, even at such extreme latitudes – and Groppello is its agronomic child. These two beauties in 1958 appeared as a stimulating adventure to Andrea, the first Pasini to approach wine. Today, after more than fifty years, we are even more convinced that this Valtènesi autochthonous is the rarest and most precious jewel of our viticultural experience.
A grape so noble and fragile at the same time has to be cultivated with respect and dedication, a few bunches for each vineyard and a lot of research, so that it can continue to tell the unique balance of the land it comes from. Groppello features a thin skin, compact shape, juicy pulp. In the family, at Pasini San Giovanni, since the sixties we have made it the precise and traditional essence of Chiaretto, its most natural expression, then the elegant support of our best red wines – which get to be called Valtènesi – and, for a few seasons, even the backbone of our Centopercento Traditional Method sparkling wine. We are aware that there is still a lot to learn about this grape, but it is Valtènesi herself who is teaching us the right way to truly honor it.
