Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG “Pietro dal Cero” 2019

Ca’ dei Frati can trace its origins to a document from 1782 referring to “a house with a cellar in Lugana in the Sermion district known as the place of the Friars.” In 1939, Felice Dal Cero, whose family had already cultivated vines in Montecchia di Crosara near Verona, settled in that very location, drawn by its promise for grape growing. Over time, and thanks to years of effort in the vineyards and in the cellar, his son Pietro contributed to the formation of the local DOC in 1969, bottling the first wine under the name Lugana Casa dei Frati, which later became Ca’ dei Frati. In 2012, Pietro passed away, leaving the family estate to his wife Santa Rosa and children Igino, Gian Franco, and Anna Maria, who maintain the same drive that has guided them for decades.

Each vineyard’s grapes are processed separately to capture the distinct traits of the land. The winery uses a precise, ever-evolving technique that favours balance and longevity while respecting the integrity of the fruit. Ongoing collaboration with friends such as Gino Veronelli helped shape decisions about refining and maturing the wines.

The vineyards extend around the southern shore of Lake Garda, where Ca’ dei Frati has been practicing viticulture for four generations. Every day of the year, from the vine’s reawakening in spring to the moment of harvest, plays a pivotal role. This careful approach results in wines that reflect their origin, built on an understanding of the region and the vines that have flourished there for many decades.