2022 Ca Dei Frati Lugana Lombardy 750 ml

This is the premier wine from the premier producer in a region that’s a complete insider’s secret, hardly known outside of Italy. In the peninsula, it's a favorite at tables from Milan to Rome. 

Right now, Cà Dei Frati’s Lugana is an under-the-radar star, but it’s gaining traction, fast—especially among Wine Access members. They made it one of our top-selling Italian white wines of 2022. One member said, “This one hits it out of the park.” Another admitted, “I hadn't even finished the first bottle when I decided to buy more…This wine was an absolute treat.” 

This wine is a perfect introduction to the Turbiana grape variety, which is grown almost exclusively around Lake Garda in the foothills of the Italian Alps. For many decades, this grape was assumed to be part of the Trebbiano family, but recent studies have proved Turbiana to be a unique native variety. 

The 80+ year-old Cà dei Frati winery takes a simple approach with I Frati. The wine sees no malolactic fermentation, so it shows the Turbiana grape’s inherent crystalline acidity. It’s aged on its fine lees in stainless steel for six months followed by two months in bottle, so its zippy yet elegant mouthfeel is laced with a subtle texture.

It thrills with the same laser-focus as Chablis and Sancerre, and with citrus and orchard fruit tinged with saline and herbal notes, and shines when paired with anything from fresh fish to charcuterie to stir-fried vegetables.