The history of Ca dei Frati goes back to 1782; an historic document confirms “a house with a cellar in Lugana in the Sermion district known as "the place of the Friars”. Fast forward to 1939, when Felice Dal Cero moved to that very house in Lugana di Simione, on the Lombardy side of the Lugana appellation. He was the son of a wine-grower near Verona, and as such recognised the area's potential for vine cultivation and winemaking. Future generations invested in more vineyards, and the estate is still family owned, run today by fourth generation Ignio Dal Cero who is the winemaker. The grapes for Ca dei Frati's wines come from their own vineyards, predominately in Lugana di Simione and San Martino della Battaglia on the southern shores of Lake Garda, which together total 160 hectares. A further 11 hectares have been purchased in Valpolicella, which is where their Amarone is produced. The Ca dei Frati vineyards are planted to a high vine density and their yields are well below the average for the zone, which thereby increases the concentration of juice in the fruit. All their grapes are hand-picked and the fruit from each plot is vinified separately to express the particular terroir. The soils of Lugana are of morainic origin, stratified clays, which are predominantly calcareous and rich in minerals, and from this unique terroir Ca dei Frati produce fresh, mineral wines with layers of complexity. They are recognised as one of the very best producers in Lugana and the exceptional quality of their wines are undisputed.
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