Ca’ dei Frati may sound like a monk’s hideaway—and it was, centuries ago—but today it’s a benchmark name in Italian wine, famous for white wines that actually age like legends. The Dal Cero family planted their roots in Sirmione in 1939, just before Lugana was a DOC and long before the grape Turbiana became a sommelier obsession. From just 4 hectares back then, the family grew the estate to 200 (yes, two hundred!), all still family-run and all planted in soils shaped by ancient glaciers. Here, the lake acts like a natural air conditioner, letting the grapes soak up the sun by day and cool off at night—think summer camp for vines, with a mineral edge. The cellar team are tech wizards: grapes are kept oxygen-free from crush to cork, and Brolettino—their barrel-aged Lugana—is practically a cult classic. Beyond their signature whites, Ca’ dei Frati dabbles deliciously in sparkling rosé, reds like Ronchedone, and a powerful Amarone crafted in homage to patriarch Pietro. If you haven’t met Turbiana yet, this is the place to fall in love.

Reviews for this winery

Falstaff

The Ca'dei Frati winery has been known since 1782. In 1939, the winemaker's son Felice Dal Cero moved into this house in Lugana di Sirmione and immediately recognised the area's high suitability for viticulture. After 30 years of work in the vineyard and cellar, Felice's son Pietro began bottling his first brand Lugana Casa dei Frati in 1969, which was later called Ca'dei Frati. Pietro Dal Cero passed away in 2012, leaving his cultural legacy to his wife Santa Rosa and children Igino, Gian Franco and Anna Maria, who continue to run the company with the same passion and determination.

2026