A Wine Lover's Guide to Italy's Charming Lando Wine Region

Exploring the Lando Wine Region

The Lando wine region in Italy offers a picturesque landscape dotted with rolling vineyards and charming wineries. Known for producing high quality red and white wines, a visit to Lando provides an authentic Italian wine tasting experience. We had the opportunity to tour some of the top wineries in Lando and sample the delicious local wines. In this article, we will share the highlights of our wine tasting adventures in the Lando region.

Getting to Know Lando

Lando is located in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. It sits about an hour west of Venice, nestled amongst the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains. The climate here is ideal for growing grapes, with hot sunny days and cool evenings. The main grape varietals grown in Lando are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay.

The town of Lando dates back to Roman times. Remnants of an old Roman road can still be seen winding through the vineyards. Most of the wineries here are small, family-run operations that have been making wine for generations. Their deep winemaking heritage shines through in the complexity and balance of their wines.

Visiting the Cantina Pizzolato Winery

Our first stop was the Cantina Pizzolato winery, which has been family owned since 1880. They focus exclusively on producing high end organic wines. We were greeted warmly by the winery owner, Alfredo Pizzolato, who led us through a tasting of some of his most popular wines.

The Cantina Pizzolato tasting room was rustic and charming, with wine barrels and other winemaking equipment on display. Mr. Pizzolato explained each wine before we sampled it. The Pinot Grigio had bright citrus notes that opened up to hints of stone fruit. Next was the smooth and robust Merlot with flavors of ripe plum and black cherry. The standout was the estate Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in oak. It had a bold, complex taste with velvety tannins on the finish.

In addition to sampling the wines, Mr. Pizzolato took us on a short tour of the vineyards and winemaking facilities. Everything was state of the art but still had an old world feel. Overall, Cantina Pizzolato offered a great mix of modern and traditional winemaking techniques that resulted in exceptional organic wines.

Lunch and Wine Pairing at La Foresta Winery

After an informative visit to Cantina Pizzolato, we headed to La Foresta winery for a gourmet lunch paired with their wines. La Foresta is known for making full bodied reds as well as creamy sparkling wines using the traditional Champagne method.

We were seated on the outdoor terrace overlooking the rolling vineyards. For our first course, we enjoyed a charcuterie board paired with La Foresta's Brut rosé sparkling wine. The Brut rosé had delicate bubbles and notes of red berry, peach, and mint. It was a perfect aperitif.

Our main course was risotto with wild mushrooms, asparagus, and truffle oil. The winery sommelier recommended pairing this with La Foresta's Amarone Riserva. This rich red wine is made by drying the grapes to concentrate the sugars and flavors. With hints of ripe cherry, cinnamon, and almond, it complemented the earthy risotto beautifully.

For dessert, we were treated to a decadent tiramisu served with La Foresta's late harvest Sauvignon Blanc. The sweetness of the wine balanced the coffee and cocoa notes in the tiramisu. Overall, this wine pairing lunch gave us a wonderful taste of Lando's gourmet cuisine and wines.

Relaxing at the Family-Run Garbin Winery

Our final winery visit was to Garbin, a small family operated winery and inn. The Garbin family has been making wine in Lando for four generations. They gave us a warm welcome and private tour of their idyllic property.

We sampled Garbin's easy drinking Valpolicella, full bodied Amarone, and fruity, floral Bardolino Chiaretto rosé. The family's passion for winemaking came through in the nuanced flavors of their wines. Our tour ended with a glass of Garbin's Vespaiolo, a smooth white wine with almond and citrus notes.

The Garbins invited us to stay for an authentic home-cooked meal at the winery's intimate onsite restaurant. We dined on classic dishes like risotto with radicchio and creamy polenta. With a bottle of Garbin's velvety Merlot, it was the perfect way to end our day of wine tasting in Lando.

Key Takeaways from Our Lando Wine Tour

Visiting Lando was an amazing opportunity to discover lesser known Italian wines and immerse ourselves in regional winemaking traditions. Here are our key takeaways from touring the wineries of the Lando region:

• Lando produces excellent wines across a variety of styles including light bodied reds like Valpolicella, full bodied reds like Amarone, crisp whites like Pinot Grigio, and fruity rosés.
• Many Lando wineries use organic farming methods and natural winemaking processes resulting in pure, expressive wines.
• The wineries here are small, family-run operations with deep multigenerational ties to winemaking.
• Food and wine pairings are taken very seriously, with winery restaurants offering delicious local cuisine.
• Lando provides charming hideaways like the Garbin inn for relaxing amidst the vineyards.

A trip to Lando offers wine lovers a glimpse into traditional Italian winemaking as well as excellent wines distinctive to this region. From the warm hospitality to the rolling vineyard scenery, a Lando wine tour is an unforgettable experience for any wine enthusiast.

FAQs

Where is the Lando wine region located?

Lando is located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, about an hour west of Venice.

What grapes are grown in Lando?

The main grapes grown in the Lando region are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay. Lando is also known for growing grapes used in Amarone and Valpolicella wines.

What is the climate like in Lando?

Lando has a mild climate perfect for grape growing, with hot sunny days and cool evenings. The nearby Dolomite mountains help moderate temperatures.

What are some top wineries to visit in Lando?

Some of the most popular wineries to visit in Lando include Cantina Pizzolato, La Foresta, and Garbin. These family-run wineries offer tastings, tours, and charming accommodations.

What wine and food pairings are popular in Lando?

Lando wineries often pair full-bodied reds like Amarone with mushroom risotto and lighter reds like Valpolicella with antipasto boards. Sparkling wines from Lando complement seafood dishes.