Story: Cantina di Custoza | Veneto
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Founded in 1968, Cantina di Custoza combines state-of-the-art production technologies with a deep-rooted winemaking tradition that has shaped the landscape and culture of this region for centuries. Originally founded by 83 winegrowers, today the Cantina can draw on the experience and commitment of 227 winegrowers, who together cultivate around 1,000 hectares of vineyards. These vineyards extend over the gentle moraine hills at the southern tip of Lake Garda, an area that offers ideal conditions for winegrowing. Thanks to the proximity to the lake, a unique microclimate prevails here that can be compared with the conditions in Mediterranean coastal regions. The regular aeration by mild winds, the mineral-rich soils and the optimal hours of sunshine create an incomparable basis for elegant, expressive wines.

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Historical viticulture
Viticulture in the region has a long and fascinating history. Archaeological finds prove that vines were already being cultivated in the area around Sommacampagna in Roman and Etruscan times. However, the area around Custoza is not only known for its wine tradition, but also for its historical significance during the Italian Wars of Liberation. Some of the decisive battles between Garibaldi's freedom fighters and the troops of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy took place here. Even today, numerous monuments and place names bear witness to these turbulent times, which are indelibly linked to the identity of this region.

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Organic farming
While the Cantina di Custoza as a whole is dedicated to the production of high-quality wines, some members have specialized in the highest quality. These include Bresaola Nicola, the winegrower Tumulo Alessandro, the brothers Silvio and Bruno Sterzi and the Bontemponi family's Monte Vento vineyard. Together, they cultivate almost 30 hectares of excellent vineyards and rely on sustainable cultivation methods and strict selection. They are supported and advised by one of Italy's most renowned agricultural research institutes, which combines innovative cultivation methods with traditional knowledge.

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Main focus: Bianco di Custoza
One of the most representative wines of the Cantina di Custoza is the Custoza DOC Terre in Fiore, a white wine made from a traditional cuvée of Tocai, Garganega, Friulano and Trebbiano. The grapes for this wine come from selected vineyards in the hills around Custoza and Valeggio sul Mincio. The Custoza DOC is known for its freshness, pronounced fruitiness and delicate floral notes. This elegant style made it particularly popular with high society ladies in the past, which is why it was given the charming nickname 'il vino delle dame', meaning 'the wine of the ladies'. The Custoza DOC Terre in Fiore embodies all these characteristic qualities in a particularly harmonious way and is an excellent example of the traditional art of winemaking in this extraordinary region. - Gerardo [TS01/25]

"Custoza - the name goes back to the setting of William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', the medieval Verona of Cangrande della Scala, the great statesman and patron of Dante Alighieri. To protect the flourishing city, Cangrande built an extensive fortification system, the last bastion of defense before the city walls was a small village on a hill in front, called 'Custodia'. Over the centuries, 'Custodia' became today's Custoza, the historic home of the Cantina. The place where the first Custoza DOC was pressed 50 years ago. Today, 'Custodia' refers to the best cru, the Custoza Superiore DOC. Based on the experience of the winegrowers and consultants, oenologist Luca Oliosi selects 10 hectares in the best locations every year. These are the vineyards where the best grapes of the Garganega, Trebbiano, Fernanda and Incrocio Manzoni grape varieties ripen thanks to their orientation, altitude and soil structure. Carefully selected and harvested by hand, the grapes undergo cold maceration before fermentation, followed by long ageing on the fine lees in large French oak barrels. The result is a complex and long-lasting white wine. The perfect homage to the centuries-old winemaking tradition of the Veneto and the impressive amphitheater of lush green hills created by the glaciers of Lake Garda in the Veronese hinterland." - Falstaff