Custoza

Tasting period

June - July 2021

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Custoza is a DOC wine produced in the Italian region of Veneto, in the province of Verona.

Aerial,View,Of,The,Ossuary,Of,Custoza,Italian,History,Museum

70% Garganega, Trebbianello, Bianca Fernanda

30% Trebbiano toscano, Malvasia, Riesling italico, Pinot bianco, Chardonnay, Manzoni bianco

The area of the DOC is spread across 9 municipalities: Sommacampagna (home of the hamlet of Custoza, hence the name of the designation), Villafranca di Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Castelnuovo del Garda, Pastrengo, Bussolengo and Sona. The limited extension of the DOC area smoothes the climate conditions and mitigates the weather: the summer is warm and the winter temperate. The nearby Garda Lake creates a microclimate that is conducive for the growing, blooming and fructifying of the vines and also facilitates grape maturation. Furthermore, the soil of the gentle morainic hills is mostly made up of deposits left by the glaciers that created the Lake, and thus presents different profiles, from pebbly-sandy to clay-loam, all rich in minerals. Custoza is a very peculiar wine, one of the first white wines to obtain a Controlled Designation of Origin in Italy, established back in 1971 with the name “Custoza White”; then, after 2005, the mention was shortened to “Custoza”. The Consortium of Protection was established in 1972. Today, the Custoza DOC area is home to 572 wineries, covering over 2800 ha, and producing 12 million bottles.
custoza_White grape

The term “Custoza” DOC is used for 4 types of wine: Custoza, Custoza Superiore (coming from small parcels and selected crus), Custoza passito (sweet) and Custoza spumante (sparkling). The history and tradition of Custoza wine in the territory is old and fascinating. Back in time, it was an after-meal wine, served during the holidays. Now the most consumed and appreciated version is the dry Custoza.

The wines of DOC Custoza must be obtained with white territorial grapes: the Garganega, the Trebbianello (that is a local biotype of Friulano) and the Bianca Fernanda (that is a local clone of Cortese). However the product specification also allow other grapes variety: Trebbiano toscano, Malvasia, Riesling italico, Pinot bianco, Chardonnay and Manzoni bianco.

The obtained blend is a harmony of all the characteristics of the Custoza DOC, recognizable for its balance and elegance. The Trebbiano brings structure, the Garganega the typical fruity aroma, the Trebbianello and Bianca Fernanda bring florality and elegance – the union of all varieties contributes to the creation of a unique wine.

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