The colour is medium straw. On the nose white flowers, green apple and some almond. In the mouth mineral and fresh, with a citrusy finish that last for quite a while. Overall a very elegant and pleasant wine.
I Frati is produced under the Lugana DOC, created in 1969. It is the flagship wine of Cà dei Frati, a winery founded in 1939 and developed around a marketing concept inspired by a document dated 1782 referring to “a house with a cellar located in Lugana in the Sermion district known as the place of the Friars”.
Of the original house nothing is left, but the visitor is nevertheless welcomed in a convent. A modern construction that, although it doesn’t have anything to do with friars, conveys a sense of history, tradition and quality in winemaking.
Lugana wines have become increasingly appreciated by the public. As a result, in the past 20 years, the vineyard surface of Lugana has grown by 300%!
Visiting Cà dei Frati in Sirmione is an experience I recommend. The building is interesting and the wine tasting very well-organized. I visited the winery with my son at the end of August, while having a holiday with my family on Lake Garda. We were able to taste the full range of wines produced by Cà dei Frati, including this wine, of which some 2 mio. bottles are produced every year.
I Frati sells at the winery for 9.60 EUR, which is cheaper than at the supermarket. As an example, the same bottle sells at Bennet for 12.90 EUR (1/3 more). From my experience, this is seldom the case. The price at the winery is usually at least as high as at the store, and often higher. I’m usually told that this is to avoid competing with the distribution channel. A reasoning I can understand from the distributor’s point of view, but not from the winery’s and visitor’s perspective.
Country: Italy
Region: Lombardy
Grapes: Trebbiano di Lugana
Type: White
Vintage: 2019
Producer: Cà dei Frati
Price range: Economic (<15 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5