Le Fornaci, an exciting white Lugana from top winery Tommasi

Tommasi le Fornaci Lugana Bianco is an exciting wine. The wine is exuberant, dry, and full of flavor. Subtle fruitiness comes in a blend of green apple, honeysuckle, and lime. The long finish has a hint of minerality and a distinct bitterness that makes it exciting. Le Fornaci is a wine that manages to be immensely enjoyable even at a young age, while also rewarding patience as it ages. The Tommasi le Fornaci Lugana Bianco is also sustainably sealed under a Nomacorc’s “Select Green 300” Zero Carbon closure. 12.5% ​​alcohol, which gives it lightness, elegance, and balance, carefully balanced with the weight of fruit and fresh acidity. This young wine has a greenish tint in the glass, while the nose initially reveals elderflower, lemon, and grapefruit. Le Fornaci is an ongoing wine project of the Tommasi family. It is located in the Lugana DOC at the southern tip of Lake Garda. The wine is delicious with spring-like dishes: Pasta a la Primavera, or a Risi e bisi. Keep it light and also serve a trout with young vegetables.

Tommasi

Tommasi is so well-known that this winemaker from Veneto needs little introduction. This company started in 1902 with just five hectares of vines and is now what they call a wine colossus. They now own 599 hectares of vines throughout Italy and produce 3.4 million bottles of high-quality wine annually from six wineries, 86% of which goes for global export. With more than 50 wines in their portfolio, it can be difficult to keep track. However, their most famous wines are two red wines. Amarone Classico is their masterpiece, first produced in 1959, while their Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore is one of the finest examples of the style. Those two wines will be featured in a future article.

Lugana DOC

Lugana DOC, on the southern side of Lake Garda, is a small DOC with a big personality. It has been a DOC for white wine since 1967, making it one of Italy's earliest appellations. It covers only 2,107 hectares and serves around 125 producers. Tourists flock to this beautiful area, and the towns of Desenzano, Sirmione, and Peschiera on the lake have been resorts since Roman times. Unusually, Lugana is one of the few DOCs that spans two Italian regions: Lombardy in the west and Veneto in the east. While 90% of the vines grow in Lombardy, 60% of the winemaking takes place in Veneto.

Turbiana

Lugana’s claim to greatness, however, also stems from the local white grape named Turbiana. This variety has had many names, and DNA testing reveals that it is a biotype of the Verdicchio grape variety from the Le Marche region of Italy. Indeed, as this grape appears in Lugana’s medieval archives, it may have originated from Lake Garda. Once known as Trebbiano di Lugana, DNA testing shows that it is the same grape as Trebbiano di Soave. This is therefore not just an “old” Trebbiano (of which there are many), but a white grape that ranks among the best in Italy. While DNA proves the pedigree, Turbiana has long adapted to the Lugana terroir. The microclimate and soil foster a unique aroma and flavor profile that differs from Soave or Le Marche. Turbiana grapes ripen evenly and slowly, allowing them to become rich while retaining their refreshing acidity. Therefore, the resulting Lugana wines can be consumed young, but they also age well.