20 January 2025
The best wine in Lombardy under 20 euro is produced on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. Here is
In recent years, the Valtènesi has come into the limelight thanks to outstanding rosés. But from this area close to Lake Garda also come very interesting, light and fragrant reds. To one of these we awarded the Regional Quality Price Award.
The Valtènesi stretches west of the Garda basin, between Desenzano and Salò, on a sort of large plateau 200 metres above sea level and enclosed by the hills of morainic origin that characterise the southern part of the lake. Cantrina is a tiny rural village in this area located in the municipality of Bedizzole, in the Brescia hinterland of Lake Garda. But it is also the name of the beautiful company of Cristina Inganni and Diego Lavo, founded in 1999.
It is a small but high-profile, strictly family-run business that follows a very precise philosophy from the outset: maximum respect for the environment, agronomic and oenological choices that can highlight the characteristics of individual soils in the bottle, and a concept of quality, attention and creativity that is entirely personal. The intent is quite clear: to produce wines that not only are good but also tell the story of this strip of Lombardy, now lying on the clay of the lake, now on glacial detritus. The winery, since 2014, is entirely organically run: all sustainable and low-impact practices are favoured, with minimal use of sulphites, use of indigenous yeasts, minimal filtrations only when necessary and light bottles.
The best value for money wine in Lombardy for the Berebene Guide 2025
The range of labels offered by the Cantrina company has naturalness, integrity and respect for the land as its common thread. The Riviera del Garda Classico Groppello '23, which we awarded for the best value for money in the region in the Gambero Rosso's Berebene 2025 guide, is also a spokesman for these demands. It was also awarded the Due Bicchieri Rossi in the Gambero Rosso's Vini d'Italia 2025 guide, having reached the finals. The red grape par excellence from the Brescia area of Lake Garda, vinified in purity or, to be more precise, with the two varieties, i.e. 90% of Groppello Gentile and the remaining 10% of Groppello di Mocasina, gives life to a deliciously fresh and fragrant wine, savoury and airy, distinguished by frank scents of currants and raspberries, clear in its ruby red colour and light in its sip, so harmonious and pleasant that it is difficult to stop at the first glass.
