WHITE OF CUSTOZA (DOC)
The city of Custoza developed at the end of the 13th century around a guardhouse built during the wars between Mantua and Verona. Although all documents relating to the purchase and sale of vineyards and wine trade in this area are dated only for the period, falling after the establishment of the commune, then there is evidence, that viticulture and wine-making were present in these areas from ancient times. This is evidenced by, inter alia, the fossil fragments of the first grape varieties found near Pesciaia di Bolca, which, according to specialists, count more than 40 million years, thus they existed in these areas long before the appearance of the human race.
The first vinification techniques appeared here in the 6th century BC. when the Etruscans made contact with Reti Arusmati – former inhabitants of Veneto. In the Roman era, most of this area was already planted with vines. Since then, over the centuries, there were many mentions of the cultivation of vines in these areas, which - as opposed to the situation, as has happened in other regions - they have never felt any major crisis.
In the southern part of the Riviera del Garda area, the main cultivation is bright grape varieties, mainly Trebbiano Toscano and Garganega (a strain typical of the Vicenza area), and also Tocai Friulano, Malvasia Toscana, Riesling Italico oraz Cortese. It is these varieties, intelligently connected, create a blend used in the production of Bianco di Custoza - a dry wine with a delicate and slightly bitter aftertaste and an intense wine aroma. This wine was appreciated, from at least the 16th century, by the popes, artists and great military commanders. In many cases, it is to this drink that they owe their warm memories, obscuring them with much less pleasant reminiscences of this land, which - due to its strategic location - has often become the scene of cruel and costly battles.
White Protection Consortium of Custoza
Matteotti Square, 8
37011 Bardolino (VR)
ITALY