Cantrina

Founded in the ’90s by Cristina Inganni and Diego Lavo, the estate – which takes its name from the small village where they live – covers a little under 8 hectares among the gentle morainic hills of Lake Garda, in the province of Brescia. Since 2017 it has been certified organic, with craft rigour, respect for biodiversity and a low-intervention approach in the cellar.

Philosophy

“Our vineyard and cellar are a ‘freestyle exercise’”, they say: they work without preconceptions, letting the uniqueness of the terroir come through, with low-impact production, hand-tended vines and a minimalist approach in the cellar.

Terroir & Grape Varieties

• Soils: morainic-sandy, benefiting from the mild climate of Lake Garda.

• Vineyards: Groppello (Gentile and Mocasina), a rare and elegant variety typical of the area; also Rebo, Marzemino, Pinot Noir, Incrocio Manzoni, Riesling and Chardonnay.

Representative Wines

• Rosanoire (2024) – Rosé from Pinot Noir with light maceration, very fresh, floral, elegant and savoury.

• Valtènesi (red Groppello) – A savoury, terroir-driven single-varietal wine, an authentic expression of the IGT Garda classico.

• Riné Bianco – A blend of Chardonnay and Riesling, designed to evolve in bottle with depth and elegance.

• Nepomuceno Rosso Benaco IGT – a structured, intense blend, excellent paired with well-flavoured dishes.

• Other wines: Zerdí (red Rebo), Chiaretto “A Rose Is A Rose…”.

Strengths

• A compact estate, an artisan family and certified organic production.

• Refined wines, tied to the the Lake Garda area and rare indigenous varieties.

• Sustainable packaging and an environmentally respectful approach to production.

• Generally high Vivino scores: Rosanoire (~3.7), Riné (~3.9), Nepomuceno (~4.3)