White wine more and more popular in Italy and especially in the Lugana territory

Historically, Italy has always been a red wine country, but in recent years the driving force for production and commercial growth has been bubbles and the future is white wines. The numbers say so and investments of wine entrepreneurs confirm it, pushing up prices of white denomination vineyards. For instance, the price for one hectare of Lugana is now around 250.000 euros according to WineNews estimates. And, the 1.586 hectares of vineyards, divided among the towns of Desenzano del Garda, Pozzolengo, Peschiera sul Garda, Sirmione and Lonato del Garda, for a production of 15 million bottles (80% of which ends up abroad) and a turnover of 66 million euros, many Valpolicella brands have been captivated on the Turbiana road. For example, Tommasi, which has been producing Lugana “for more than twenty years, at the beginning by relying on local producers, then a very small vineyard, just one hectare in San Martino della Battaglia”, Pierangelo Tommasi, foreign sales manager of Tommasi Family Estates, told WineNews, “and then five years ago we developed a true growth plan, including two major investments. When it becomes fully operational, there will be 45 hectares in production, 200.000 bottles and an ad hoc wine cellar”. The pioneer and innovator Zenato is undoubtedly one of the Venetian brands that has made Lugana great, “my father decided to focus on this small territory already in the Sixties”, Nadia Zenato, head of the company, told WineNews, “which has experienced great success in recent years”. The Santa Margherita Group, historic brand and one of the most important wine groups in Italy in terms of production and turnover, has purchased 140 hectares of Ca’ Maiol in the summer of 2017. It is “one of the most important brands”, commented Ettore Nicoletto, CEO of the Group, “with which we plan on becoming leader in the territory”. One of the producers that Turbiana has bewitched, is Gerardo Cesari of the Italian Vini Group, Montresor and, since the beginning of the year, Allegrini, 40 hectares to be planted and 10 already planted, “if the results come up to our quality standards we will mark the wines produced in the Lugana with the Allegrini brand”, Franco Allegrini explained to WineNews.