Custoza

Custoza

45°18'54" N

LATITUDE

10°55'12" E

LONGITUDE

0

APPELATIONS

about this subregion

Nestled in the picturesque Veneto region of northern Italy, the Custoza DOC is a captivating wine-producing area known for its rich viticultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty. This wine region is a testament to the harmonious coexistence of history and terroir, offering a unique taste of Italy's winemaking tradition.

The Custoza DOC benefits from a diverse and favorable environment that contributes to the distinctive character of its wines. With rolling hills and a temperate climate, the vineyards here are blessed with optimal conditions for grape cultivation. The proximity to Lake Garda lends a moderating influence on temperatures, allowing for a longer growing season and ensuring the grapes ripen slowly and evenly.

Among the grape varieties cultivated in the Custoza DOC, Corvina stands out as the most prominent red grape. Its bold, fruity characteristics are often used to craft delightful red wines that add depth to the region's wine offerings. However, it's the white wines that truly shine here, thanks to the abundance of white grape varieties. The most planted among them include Cortese, Friulano, Garganega, and Trebbiano. These grapes produce wines with a spectrum of flavors, from zesty and crisp to full-bodied and aromatic, showcasing the diversity of the Custoza terroir.

When exploring the Custoza DOC, one can expect to encounter a wide range of wines that reflect the region's unique environment and grape varieties. From fresh and lively white wines to the occasional gem of a red, Custoza's wines are a testament to the art of winemaking in a landscape where tradition and terroir come together in perfect harmony.

Associations

1400

Vineyard Hectares

72

WINERIES

2,500 - 2,800

GROWING DEGREE DAYS

Discover Terroir

The Custoza DOC, is a wine region located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. It is situated on the southern shores of Lake Garda, which is the largest lake in Italy and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country. The Custoza DOC area spans across the provinces of Verona and Mantua. It encompasses several municipalities, including Custoza, Sommacampagna, Villafranca di Verona, and Valeggio sul Mincio, among others.

The Custoza DOC wine region experiences a temperate climate. Its proximity to Lake Garda provides a moderating influence, protecting the vineyards from extreme temperature fluctuations. The summers are warm, allowing the grapes to ripen fully, while the winters are mild, minimizing the risk of frost damage. The region receives adequate rainfall, ensuring proper hydration for the vines.

The soil of the Custoza DOC wine region is diverse and rich, characterized by glacial and alluvial deposits. The area's terroir consists of clay, limestone, and gravel, providing good drainage and moisture retention. This varied soil composition contributes to the complexity and unique character of Custoza wines, allowing for the cultivation of different grape varieties. It imparts a range of flavors and mineral notes to the wines, making them expressive, well-structured, and reflective of the region's distinct terroir.

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Most Planted Grapes in Custoza DOC

The Custoza DOC, located in the Veneto region near Lake Garda, is renowned for its fresh and aromatic white wines. The area’s morainic soils-rich in minerals, clay, and gravel-along with a mild climate and cooling breezes from the lake, create ideal conditions for grape growing. The region’s wines are blends, with each grape contributing unique qualities to the final profile.

  • Cortese (Bianca Fernanda): Cortese thrives in the calcareous and gravelly soils of Custoza, benefiting from good drainage and moderate moisture. It requires plenty of sunshine and a long growing season to develop its subtle aromatics and crisp acidity. The grape is valued for its delicate floral notes and ability to bring freshness and finesse to the blend.
  • Friulano (Trebbianello): Friulano prefers well-drained, mineral-rich soils and enjoys the region’s diurnal temperature swings, which help preserve its lively acidity. It ripens relatively early and is sensitive to excessive humidity, so careful vineyard management is essential. Friulano adds vibrant color and gentle fruitiness to Custoza wines.
  • Garganega: Garganega is highly adaptable and flourishes in the diverse soils of Custoza, especially those with volcanic and limestone components. It benefits from a warm climate with good ventilation and moderate rainfall. Garganega contributes floral aromas, crisp fruit flavors, and structure, enhancing both the complexity and aging potential of the wines.
  • Trebbiano (Trebbiano Toscano): Trebbiano is well-suited to the region’s clay and sandy soils, which provide the right balance of drainage and water retention. It is a vigorous, high-yielding grape that requires careful canopy management to maintain quality. Trebbiano brings lightness, acidity, and a subtle herbal character to the blend, supporting the wine’s overall freshness.

Wines from the Custoza DOC are celebrated for their freshness, aromatic complexity, and easy drinkability. Produced from a blend of local white grape varieties, and overseen by the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Custoza, these wines reflect the region’s unique morainic soils and mild climate, resulting in a distinctive and harmonious profile.

  • Color: Bright straw yellow, often with greenish or golden reflections, highlighting the wine’s youth and vibrancy.
  • Aroma: Delicately fruity and floral, with notes of grapefruit, lemon, melon, pear, pineapple, banana, acacia, orange blossom, and elderflower. Hints of white and yellow stone fruit, wisteria, and sometimes subtle meadow herbs are also present1536.
  • Palate: Dry, fresh, and harmonious, with balanced acidity and a slightly mineral, savory finish. The flavor is soft with good structure, and there’s often a pleasant, lightly bitter almond note in the aftertaste.
  • Style: Lightly aromatic, highly drinkable, and versatile with food. Best enjoyed young for maximum fragrance and freshness, though special vintages can age and develop greater complexity and elegance over time.
  • Other Types: Besides still wines, producers from this DOC also produce sparkling (Spumante) and dessert (Passito) wines, offering additional expressions of the region’s character.

Custoza DOC wines stand out for their lively, approachable style and their ability to pair well with a wide range of dishes, making them a favorite among lovers of Italian white wines.

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