📜 Lugana

Lugana is an Italian protected designation of origin (DOC/PDO) for white wines from the southern shore of Lake Garda. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The single document covers Lugana, Lugana Superiore, Lugana Riserva, Lugana Vendemmia Tardiva (late harvest) and Lugana Spumante. The wines are described as greenish straw yellow, turning slightly golden with ageing. The minimum total alcoholic strength is 11% vol, the minimum non-reducing extract is 15 g/l and the minimum total acidity is 4.5 g/l, expressed as tartaric acid.

The main variety listed is Trebbiano di Soave. The link with the area uses the local name Turbiana and says the grape must make up at least 90% of the varietal composition.

Maximum yields are 12,500 kg of grapes per hectare (87.5 hl/ha) for Lugana, including Riserva, Vendemmia Tardiva and Spumante, and 11,000 kg per hectare (77 hl/ha) for Lugana Superiore.

The production area covers the whole commune of Sirmione and parts of Desenzano del Garda, Pozzolengo and Lonato del Garda in the province of Brescia (Lombardy), as well as part of Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona (Veneto).

According to the specification, the soils are almost uniform: mostly flat land of clay and limestone. The microclimate of Lake Garda is named as a feature of the area. Vineyards are traditionally worked with ridging, called baulatura, which helps rainwater to drain away.