Cà dei Frati

Ca' dei Frati – Historic Lugana Winery Since 1939

Ca' dei Frati is one of the symbolic wineries of Lugana, located on the shores of Lake Garda between Lombardy and Veneto. Known since 1782 as a "house with a cellar situated in Lugana, called the place of the Friars," its modern history began in 1939 when Felice Dal Cero, a winemaker from Verona, moved to Lugana di Sirmione (Brescia), recognizing the extraordinary winemaking potential of the area. Today, the winery is managed by Santa Rosa and her children Igino, Gian Franco, and Anna Maria, who carry forward the family tradition with passion and innovation into the fourth generation.

The Birth of the Lugana DOC

After thirty years of dedication in the vineyards and the cellar, in 1969 Pietro Dal Cero contributed to the creation of the Lugana DOC designation and bottled the very first label of Lugana Casa dei Frati, later known as Ca' dei Frati. It is a wine that forever marked the history of the appellation and remains a benchmark of excellence to this day.

Production Philosophy

Grapes from each vineyard are vinified separately to highlight the distinct expressions of the terroir. Winemaking techniques, refined over decades of experience, respect the raw material to produce wines that are pure, long-lived, and exceptionally elegant. This approach was shared and enriched through discussions with the legendary wine critic and mentor Gino Veronelli.

Vineyards and Terroir

The winery primarily cultivates estate vineyards in Lugana di Sirmione and surrounding the Tower of San Martino della Battaglia. In the early 2000s, 11 hectares were acquired in Valpolicella (province of Verona, Veneto) at the Luxinum vineyard in Pian di Castagnè, where the iconic Amarone Pietro Dal Cero is crafted in tribute to the founder.

Ca' dei Frati Wines

Among the most celebrated labels of Ca' dei Frati are:

• Brolettino Lugana DOC – the ultimate expression of the Turbiana grape, elegant and highly ageworthy.
• Ronchedone – an intense, complex red wine aged for 14 months in barriques.
• Amarone Pietro Dal Cero – an exceptional red originating from the Luxinum vineyards in Valpolicella.

Values and Philosophy

Tradition, family, terroir, and uncompromised quality are the core values that have guided Ca' dei Frati for over eighty years, establishing it as a hallmark of Italian and international winemaking.