Cà dei Frati

Cà dei Frati - House of the monks

As early as 1782, a document attests to the existence of a winery in Lugana, in the municipality of Sirmione, as "a house with a cellar as the place of the monks", Cà dei Frati. In 1939 Felice Dal Cero, son of Domenico, a winemaker in Montecchia di Crosara near Verona, moved into this house and immediately recognized the potential of the region. Thirty hardworking years in the vineyard and cellar later, in 1969, it was his son Pietro who bottled his first label of Lugana Casa dei Frati, later called Cà dei Frati .

The legacy of Cà dei Frati is passed on

After his sudden death in 2012, the cultural heritage of Cà dei Frati was taken over by his wife Santa Rosa and their joint children Igino, Gian Franco and Anna Maria, who continue to run the business with the same passion and determination. Today, the dal Cero family business consists of the original winery, as well as three restaurants around Lake Garda.

Expression of the terroir

Today, the wines of Cà dei Frati are produced between the walls of the old monastery. The grapes of each vineyard are vinified individually, so that each terroir receives its best expression. Vinification is carried out with the utmost respect and care for the grapes, using the most modern and innovative technologies, which contribute to the creation of wines of integrity and longevity.

A wide variety of grape varieties are grown here to provide the material for the Cà dei Frati wines. These include:

• Corvina
• Corvinone
• Rondinella
• Croatina
• Turbiana
• Groppello Marzemino
• Sangiovese
• Barbera
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• ...and some more

The vines grow on different terroirs, but the main components are lime and clay. In addition, there are some sandy plots, or with a higher percentage of gravel. The vines are trained in the Guyot system. Depending on the wine, stainless steel tanks are used in the cellar, and for some wines, the classic wooden barrel aging is added. Bottle aging is standard at Cà dei Frati, which can last from 2 to 10 months, depending on the wine. 

The flagship - the Lugana from Cà dei Frati

Cà dei Frati gives the connoisseur the choice to either drink the Lugana young to enjoy its wonderful freshness - or to enjoy this unforgettable white wine after two or three years to admire its completeness.

However you prefer the wines of Cà dei Frati : these wines remain in the memory, like a painting of a great painter. 

In the portfolio of Cà dei Frati there are 9 wines and 2 grappas. In addition to the famous Lugana (in 2 versions), the range includes another white wine, two reds, a rosé, a white and a rosé sparkling wine and a sweet wine. The grappa of the house is also vinified from red as well as white grapes, resulting in the Grappa dei Frati (white) and the Pietro das Cero (amber).