The Winery

In the spring of 2023, we were at our favourite pizzeria near Piazza San Marco in Venice which has a brilliant “second wine list” if you ask for it. That is how we stumbled across the wines of Cascina Maddalena. We choose a Lugana DOC called Clay which seriously blew us away – enough in fact, that I did what I never do and that was take a photo of the label. The rest as they say is wine history.

Cascina Maddalena is the closest winery to the southern shores of Lake Garda in the heart of the Lugana appellation thus benefiting from its microclimate. The lake effect coupled with generally mild weather makes the location of their small plot of just 4 hectares ideal for grape growing. However, the soil is another matter. The area used to be marshland, and the clay soil is a result of these swamps. When dry the soil is hard as a rock whilst when wet it remains soft and sandy making it difficult for agriculture but brilliant for the indigenous grape Turbiana. These 100% clay vineyards are chalk full of mineral salts giving their Lugana its unique flavour profile.

As with all great wines, it starts in the vineyard and the son Mattia loves his vineyards. Mattia meticulously works his vineyards practicing extensive sustainable farming methods including all natural fertilizers, the abolition of herbicides and the avoidance of insecticide treatments. Mattia’s father Luciano constantly reminds him that you create wine in the vineyard, so this is where you need to spend the most time.