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Lake Garda Wine Regions: A Guide to Zones and DOCs
30
Sep
In short: several wine designations surround Lake Garda, spread across Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. To the south lies Lugana, with its white wine from Turbiana; to the west Valtènesi, home of Groppello and Chiaretto; to the east Bardolino, with reds and rosés from Corvina and Rondinella; inland from Verona, Custoza; and among the morainic hills, San Martino della Battaglia and Garda Colli Mantovani. In the north, on the Trentino shore, Nosiola stands out. Close by, but outside the lake area, are Franciacorta and Valpolicella. This guide is a map of the Lake Garda wine regions.
Why Lake Garda is wine country
Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake and acts as a huge thermal regulator: it softens the winters, cools the summers and brings steady breezes. To the south, the hills of the morainic amphitheatre left by the glaciers offer clay, gravel and limestone soils that vary greatly from place to place. This diversity explains why, within a few kilometres, you move from savoury whites to delicate rosés and light, fragrant reds.
The shores matter: the Brescia shore (west and south-west), the Verona shore (east and south-east), the Mantua hills south of the lake and the Trentino area to the north.
Lake Garda wine regions, zone by zone
Lugana: the white wine of the southern shore
The Lugana DOC stretches across Sirmione, Desenzano del Garda, Pozzolengo and Lonato del Garda in the province of Brescia, and Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona. The grape is Turbiana, which on clay soils gives fresh, savoury whites with ageing potential, from young Lugana to Superiore and Riserva. All the details are in our Lugana wine guide; the bottles are in our Lugana collection.
Valtènesi and Riviera del Garda Classico: the Brescia shore
On the hills between Desenzano and Salò, with villages such as Moniga, Padenghe, Manerba, Polpenazze, Puegnago and San Felice del Benaco, the Riviera del Garda Classico DOC is produced, including the historic Valtènesi subzone. The signature grape is Groppello, often blended with Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese. This is where Chiaretto, the “one-night wine”, was born, but there are also elegant, spicy reds. Read more in our Chiaretto and Valtènesi guide.
Bardolino and Chiaretto di Bardolino: the Verona shore
On the eastern shore, between Bardolino, Garda, Lazise, Cavaion, Costermano and Affi, Bardolino DOC is made: a light, fresh and spicy red from Corvina and Rondinella, sometimes with Molinara. The rosé version is Chiaretto di Bardolino, famous for its very pale colour. Bardolino Superiore is a DOCG, and since 2021 the DOC has recognised three historic subzones: La Rocca, Montebaldo and Sommacampagna. In our shop you will find, for example, Bardolino by Zenato and Traccia di Rosa by Le Fraghe.
Custoza: the white wine of the Verona hills
South-east of the lake, around Sommacampagna, Sona, Valeggio sul Mincio and Castelnuovo del Garda, Custoza DOC (or Bianco di Custoza) is produced. It is a blended white: Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano and Trebbianello (a local biotype of Friulano), with the option of adding Cortese (locally called “Bianca Fernanda”) and other white varieties. The result is a fresh, floral and fruity wine that is very versatile with food.
San Martino della Battaglia: Tuchì
In the same area as Lugana, between the provinces of Brescia and Verona, there is a small DOC dedicated to Tuchì, the local name for Friulano (formerly Tocai). San Martino della Battaglia DOC gives a straw-yellow, fresh white with a typical almondy, slightly bitter finish; there is also a rare Liquoroso version. Try the San Martino della Battaglia by Patrizia Cadore.
Garda DOC: the “umbrella” designation
Established in 1996, Garda DOC covers a wide area across Lombardy and Veneto and allows the grape variety to appear on the label: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Garganega, Cortese, Corvina, Cabernet, Merlot and others, plus sparkling and semi-sparkling wines. It is designed for varietal wines, often fresh and easy-drinking.
Garda Colli Mantovani: the morainic hills to the south
In the morainic amphitheatre south of the lake, in the Mantua municipalities of Castiglione delle Stiviere, Cavriana, Monzambano, Ponti sul Mincio, Solferino and Volta Mantovana, Garda Colli Mantovani DOC is produced: whites from Garganega, Trebbiano and Chardonnay, reds and rosés from Merlot, Rondinella and Cabernet. A lesser-known area with simple, enjoyable wines.
The Trentino shore and Nosiola
To the north, between Riva del Garda, Arco and the Valle dei Laghi, the lake climate meets the mountains. Wines here mostly fall under the Trentino DOC, and the signature grape is Nosiola, a delicate native white with a hazelnut and almond finish. Long-dried Nosiola grapes also make the rare Vino Santo Trentino, one of Italy's great sweet wines.
Comparison table
| Zone | Shore / area | Main grapes | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lugana DOC | South (Brescia and Verona) | Turbiana | Savoury white, also Riserva and Spumante |
| Riviera del Garda Classico / Valtènesi | West (Brescia) | Groppello, Marzemino, Barbera, Sangiovese | Chiaretto, spicy reds |
| Bardolino DOC / Chiaretto di Bardolino | East (Verona) | Corvina, Rondinella | Light red, pale rosé |
| Custoza DOC | South-east (Verona) | Garganega, Trebbiano, Trebbianello | Fresh, floral white |
| San Martino della Battaglia DOC | South (Brescia and Verona) | Tuchì (Friulano) | Almondy white |
| Garda DOC | Lombardy and Veneto | Varietals (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Corvina…) | Varietal wines, sparkling |
| Garda Colli Mantovani DOC | South (Mantua) | Garganega, Merlot, Rondinella, Cabernet | Simple whites, reds and rosés |
| Trentino DOC (northern shore) | North (Trento) | Nosiola | Delicate white, Vino Santo |
The neighbours: Franciacorta and Valpolicella
Two major designations lie a short distance away, but outside the lake basin: they are often combined with a trip to Lake Garda.
- Franciacorta DOCG: between Lake Iseo and Brescia, west of Lake Garda. Traditional-method sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco and Erbamat. One example: Boschedòr Extra Brut Millesimato by Bosio; the full selection is in our Franciacorta collection.
- Valpolicella: on the hills north of Verona, east of the lake. The grapes are Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella; dried grapes produce Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, a powerful, long-lived red, such as the Amarone by Ilatium Morini.
How to use this map
- For a lakeside-style aperitif: a young Lugana or a Chiaretto.
- For lake fish: Lugana, Custoza or San Martino della Battaglia.
- For pizza, cured meats and everyday food: a Bardolino or a Valtènesi red.
- For a special dinner or a gift: a Lugana Riserva, a Franciacorta or an Amarone.
Lake Garda wine FAQ
What is the most famous wine of Lake Garda?
Lugana among the whites, Bardolino among the reds and Chiaretto among the rosés are the best-known designations. Each represents a different shore of the lake.
What is the difference between Valtènesi and Riviera del Garda Classico?
Riviera del Garda Classico is the DOC of the Brescia shore; Valtènesi is its historic subzone, between Desenzano and Salò, where Groppello takes centre stage.
Are Amarone and Franciacorta Lake Garda wines?
No. They are neighbouring designations: Valpolicella lies north of Verona and Franciacorta between Lake Iseo and Brescia. They are often paired with Lake Garda because they are close by, but they are not part of its DOCs.
What is Tuchì?
It is the local name for Friulano (formerly Tocai) in the San Martino della Battaglia area, where it makes a fresh white with an almondy finish.
Tour the lake in a glass
The easiest way to discover the differences between the shores is to taste them side by side. The Lake Garda Wine Journey brings together five wines from five areas, from Valtènesi to Bardolino. Or build your own carton from our Lake Garda wines.
