Christmas with Lugana

^{This post has been brought to you by Ottella. All opinions expressed are my own. The following message is intended for those 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.}

Today we're revisiting the Lugana wine region, with a pair of bottles that come to us courtesy of Ottella. We'll start things out with a brief tour of the Lugana area, which lays nestled along the southern coast of the Lake Garda, dotted by castled villages and historic churches.

From there, we'll be reviewing the wines themselves, after which I'll be offering you some pairing suggestions to help bring these delightful wines to life.

The Where - Lugana, Italy

Situated in the northern region of Lombardy, it is surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Alps and the rolling hills of the Italian countryside. The lake is fed by several rivers, and its shoreline is dotted with stunning towns and villages, many with historic old castles and churches. The area is renowned for its mild climate and its variety of activities. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking, as well as exploring the towns' cobblestone streets, medieval castles, and wineries.

It is along the southern coast of Lake Garda that we find the Lugana wine region.

Lugana is an Italian white wine appellation located in the province of Verona in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. The wines produced within the Lugana DOC tend to be light and graceful, with a crisp and refreshing acidity, aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, with a subtle almond note. The appellation has become increasingly popular due to its wines' refreshing and easy-to-drink nature, and are most often enjoyed as an aperitif.

An idyllic landscape checkered by fishing villages and castled towns, the Lugana DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), is located just west of Verona at the southern end of Lake Garda, forming part of the larger Veneto wine region in the far Northeastern corner Italy. Though known globally for its fruit-forward white wines, Lugana also produces critically acclaimed light reds, such as Sangiovese, Barbera, and Marzemino.

Lugana's vineyards straddle the regional border between Lombardy in the west and Veneto in the east, while hugging the southern shores of Lake Garda. The majority of the area's planted vineyards range between the village of Peschiera down to Desenzano, covering parts of Lonato, Sirmione, and Pozzolengo. The entirety of this area covers just under 1500 acres.

From these vineyards, the Verdicchio grape (aka Trebbiano di Lugana) accounts for the region's acclaimed white wines - comprising some 98% of the region's total production. This grape thrives in the area's mineral rich calcareous clay soils. This soil composition is what gives the grapes their 'fresh' and 'zesty' flavor profile, with floral and spice notes, carried on a delicate acidity.

For those unfamiliar, these grapes are hailed as being 'fresh' and 'zesty' tasting, and hold onto their acidity amazingly well. This gives the wines they produce the fairly unique quality of being not only able to serve as high quality 'quick wine' - wines that can be consumed without aging - but they can 'also' be cellared for several years to allow maturation.

The Bottles - A Showcase

First up, we'll be sampling the Ottella Lugana Verdicchio and then the Ottella Le Creete.

Aromatics and Tasting - The Review

The Ottella Lugana Verdicchio is a delightful white wine, perfect both for relaxed evenings and formal dinner parties alike. The wine features a beautiful light golden color, and a complex aroma of fresh citrus, white flowers, and just a hint of minerals or damp gravel. On the palate, the wine is light and crisp, with flavors of green apples, melon, and lemon. The finish is clean and refreshing, with a pleasing minerality that lingers in the mouth. Overall, the Ottella Lugana is an excellent white wine that is full of flavor and character.

The Ottella Le Creete was a pleasure from start to finish. This crisp, dry white wine features a wonderful balance of acidity and minerality, with subtle fruitiness, and a pleasant aroma of citrus and green apples. The flavor profile is best described as refreshing, with a smooth and long-lasting finish.

What to Eat - The Pairing

The Summary: Both bottles are Verdicchio/Trebbiano, and wines produced from this particular grape pairs well with light dishes such as seafood, vegetable-based entrees, white meats (such as pork or poultry), and light seafood. It also pairs well with cheeses such as fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and goat cheese, as well as charcuterie.

In-Depth: Antipasto. With both of today's bottles, the ideal pairing is with antipasto. You might consider things like a marinated cheeseboard paired with stuffed olives, toasted nuts, and light seafood marinated in olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and dried herbs. You might also consider a more 'substantial' antipasto board, with individual pizzas prepared with basil, fresh mozzarella, and a fresh red sauce, alongside spicy marinated peppers, olives, and assorted cheese and charcuterie. In other words, think Mediterranean-themed starters.

In-Depth: Seafood. You want to stay away from overly 'fatty,' 'substantial,' or 'oily' bodied fish, such as salmon or shark, or from heavily prepared seafood such as lobster bathed in butter, or cream-sauced clams. Today's wine is still very much on the lighter end of the spectrum, and as such, those types of dishes would easily overpower the wines. Instead, think white bodied, flakier, lighter-bodied fish, preferably prepared with either an herbed butter sauce, oil and herbs, or a light marinade.