The Garda DOC Ticino Experience MasterClass, organized in collaboration with the Swiss Association of Professional Sommeliers of Ticino at the Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo in Lugano, sold out and exceeded even the rosiest expectations. The aim was to bring enthusiasts and the curious closer to the excellent wines of the generous terroir of Lake Garda.
Widespread satisfaction also among the Lake Garda producers present who were called to an afternoon which saw 10 wines served, commented by 10 Ticino sommeliers, followed by a dinner with the pairing of 8 other wines from different producers.
The greeting was given by Piero Tenca, National President of the ASSP, who gave greetings to those present and to the Consul General of Italy in Lugano Gabriele Meucci and to the heads of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland Giangi Cretti and Fabio Franceschini, and motivated the purposes of the meeting and the choice to have 10 wines tasted by as many professional ASSPS Sommeliers.
Then Rocco Lettieri, a cross-border journalist, who for years worked in Ticino and who for 20 years was sole inspector of the Veronelli Guides of the Italian Canton, a strong connoisseur of the Swiss wine scene, also greeting those present from producers who were not present, confirmed that: «We are at the third meeting here in Lugano with the Garda DOC Consortium. A return after a forced stop due to Covid. And if you come back here again there will be a reason. And this motivation lies in some interesting numbers regarding the export ratio of these wines to Switzerland. In fact, the Swiss market, which has an annual turnover of over 400 million euros for Italian wines, shows good dynamism, considering among other things that the general dynamics of national wine exports appeared more sustained, with a plus 10,6% in value recorded between 2019 and 2021. The Swiss market is therefore confirmed as a market with a high quality profile, with prestigious labels which, for several years now, have concentrated an important market share. In quantitative terms, Switzerland intercepts 3,5% of the physical volumes of wines and sparkling wines that Italy sells overall in the world, but the same market guarantees, as mentioned, about 6% of export turnover. The recent currency dynamics, which have led to a strong appreciation of the Swiss franc in the exchange rate with the euro, represent a further potential stimulus factor, effectively reducing the effective purchase cost of Italian and European wines. In terms of objectives and strategies on the Swiss market, the geographical proximity in continuity with the presence of Swiss citizens on the shores of Lake Garda has directed initiatives towards the development of the maximum diffusion of individual producers on the market. The marketing of Garda Doc products sees the prevalence of direct distribution both to restaurants and to small distributors. Together with this, a market is also beginning to open on the shelf for varietal types such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and also for various sparkling types».
«Today we are here to make "communication" which in the end is nothing but the mirror of the productive world. The world of wine stands on the producers' money and they are the only ones who keep these meetings going. A way of communicating with companies without making compromises» continued Lettieri. «We like wine because it is good, because it is history, because it is culture. This is why the "story of wine" should be done in an almost "evangelical" way, telling what is inside the glass without forgetting what is around the bottle, in the territory and in its stories, to understand even more where the beauty of wine lies, as we were taught by unforgettable characters such as Mario Soldati, Luigi Veronelli, Giorgio Grai, our great producer who is Angelo Gaja, Vittorio Fiore, Mattia Vezzola and many others with whom we talk every day».
The common thread that guided the guests during the day was commented by the President of the Consortium Paolo Fiorini: «The light factor or rather, the luminosity is a natural factor that makes the productive enclave surrounding Lake Garda unique. Here, in this space protected from north to south by the Alpine chains and enclosed by a frame of morainic hills of different undulations that have been generated over the millennia by repeated glaciations, the refraction generated by the surface of the water produces an effect, a further element which it enriches the terroir: in fact, luminosity is added to the soil and climate. In this "protected place" the effect of light refraction, amplified by the large water surface, produces the "marine" sensation of a "friendly climate", accompanied by typically Mediterranean vegetation such as olive trees, capers, lemons, the cedars, the agaves which enrich the particular "viticultural terroir", oenologically recognized for three characteristics: softness, fruitiness and fragrance».
«We have always focused on the evocative value of our productions - highlighted Carlo Alberto Panont - because we are certain that our lake and the idea of a holiday connected to it constitute a powerful mental connection between the Garda DOC wines and this same area. In fact, Lake Garda has always been considered a real place for the soul, such as to remain impressed in the memory of those who live there».
Recognized in 1996, the DOC Garda insists on a hilly production area that surrounds Lake Garda and which extends from the Valtènesi to the Valpolicella, from the banks of the Mincio to the Scaliger capital. The vineyard area is equal to 31.100 hectares, most of which are cultivated in the province of Verona (27.889) while the remaining 3.211 hectares are divided between the provinces of Mantua and Brescia. That of Garda is a “denomination of denominations”. In fact, there are ten DOC zones that are part of it and only the vineyards that historically are within controlled denomination of origin areas can also boast the Garda DOC. They are: Valtenesi; Lugano; San Martino della Battaglia; Mantovan Hills; Custoza; Bardolino; Valdadige Land of the Strong; Valpolicella; Soave and Monti Lessini.
