Medium-deep gold color; tropical fruit, peach, honeysuckle, white flowers on the nose; syrup-packed pineapple, melon, peach, citrus, green almond, slight salinity and minerality on the palate.
Dry; good, tangy acidity; impressive depth and character. Fresh in the mouth. 100% turbiana grapes, the principle grape of the Lugana region. Grapes are slowly fermented in temperature-controlled tanks. It ages three months on the lees, followed by aging in stainless steel. It is similar to sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio, but distinctive in its own right.
Lugana is a small wine region located just south of Lake Garda in north-central Italy. It is one of Italy’s oldest protected wine growing areas. Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake. The lake, and the Tommasi vineyards, are located halfway between Venice and Milan, a 30-minute drive west of Verona.
Turbiana is Lugana’s main grape almost to the exclusion of all others. It is used in this wine. For some time winemakers thought turbiana was a variant of trebbiano, the grape used to make cognac. The grape was then called trebbiano di Lugana. DNA testing in 2008 showed it was not. Trebbiano rather is closely related to verdicchio, but they are not the same grape. The Tommasi family is one of the region’s largest wine producers. It is most famous as a producer of amarone della Valpolicella and ripasso Valpolicella.
Lugana’s mild microclimate is a key part of its success. Thanks to Lake Garda, summer is less scorching and winter more temperate, making it an outlier in northern Italy. Spring frosts are rare and an almost constant breeze ventilates the vineyards and keeps the grapes healthy.
Tommasi Le Fornaci Lugana DOC 2020 is a excellent presentation of turbiana, a grape confined almost exclusively to the Lugana region at the southern end of Italy’s Lake Garda. Crisp, fresh, elegant, well structured. The soil imparts minerality and savory notes for nuance and fascination. Works as aperitif. Pair with pasta dishes; risotto; lean fish; shellfish; shrimp; crab; sushi; fried calamari; anchovies; roasted chicken; delicate meats; cured meats, charcuterie board. Cheese—grana padano DOP, brie, havarti, chèvre, crottin, fontina, monterrey jack, raclette. $18
Tommasi Family Estates website
