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IT Marangona Lugana
Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2025. Turbiana wines from 50-year-old vines, organic since 2017.
What is Lugana?
Lugana is a white wine appellation on the southern shore of Lake Garda, straddling the border between Lombardy and the Veneto. The appellation spans five communes — Sirmione, Desenzano, Pozzolengo, Lonato and Peschiera del Garda — and covers around 2,500 hectares of vineyards.
The only permitted grape variety is Turbiana, a local variant of Trebbiano. Turbiana is thin-skinned, late-ripening, and on the region’s calcareous clay soils it develops a distinctive minerality that sets Lugana apart from other Italian white wines.
Lake Garda acts as a natural thermostat: mild winters, cool breezes in summer. The result is wines with vibrant acidity and a freshness one would not expect at this latitude. The finest Lugana wines can age comfortably for ten years and beyond — a cellaring potential that surprises many.
There are currently 116 Lugana producers. Most produce agreeable, uncomplicated terrace wines. The few who take Lugana seriously make something else entirely.
Weingut Marangona — Alessandro Cutolo
The name comes from a bell. On the Torre dei Lamberti in Verona, the Marangona once called the carpenters — the Marangoni — to work. The estate has existed since the late 17th century. The family bottled their first wines in 1973, when Lugana barely interested anyone.
In 2007, Alessandro Cutolo took over in the fourth generation, together with his sister Laura. Thirty hectares between Pozzolengo and Sirmione, on calcareous clay directly by the lake. The oldest Turbiana vines are over 50 years old.
Alessandro’s philosophy can be reduced to a single sentence: Intervene as little as possible, so that the lake and the soil retain the final word.
What sets Marangona apart from most of the 115 other Lugana producers: one of only eight organically certified estates in the entire appellation. Certified since 2017, experimenting since 2012. In a region dominated by conventional viticulture, that is a statement.
100,000 bottles per year, exclusively from their own grapes. Gambero Rosso awarded the highest accolade in 2025 — Tre Bicchieri — for the Cemento. Antonio Galloni and Decanter awarded top scores. Marangona is no longer a hidden gem, but one of the most exciting addresses on Lake Garda.
Concrete, Clay and the Art of Leaving Things Out
Spontaneous fermentation. No malolactic fermentation. No oak. Minimal sulphur. Alessandro omits what others take for granted.
The Cemento — his most radical statement — ages with skin contact in unglazed concrete. The porous surface allows micro-oxidation, similar to oak, but without imposing its aromas. Ten to twelve months on the fine lees, then six months in bottle. The result has a grippy texture with polished tannins that one would not expect from a white wine.
Alongside this, Alessandro experiments with terracotta amphorae: three months of skin contact, an orange wine that probes the boundaries of the appellation. The amphorae stand directly in the vineyard — labelled in chalk: Ovest, Est.
The Wines of Marangona
Marangona Lugana DOC 2025
Turbiana · Lake Garda · approx. €13
Alessandro’s calling card. Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections. White blossom, lemon zest, green apple — and a saline minerality that reveals someone who takes the soil seriously. Silky acidity, green melon, white peach on the finish. 94 points Wine Enthusiast.
Pairs with: Lake Garda fish, fritto misto, risotto al limone, spaghetti alle vongole.
★ Cemento Lugana DOC 2024 — Tre Bicchieri
Turbiana · Lake Garda · approx. €21
Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2025. Skin contact in unglazed concrete, vines aged 40–50 years. Golden yellow with amber hints. White peach, apricot, sage, mint, white pepper, bitter almond. Grippy texture with polished tannins, surprising freshness despite the density. Crushed chalk and sage on the long finish. 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
Pairs with: Lake Garda char, pan-fried pike-perch, aged Taleggio, risotto with porcini mushrooms.
TreCampane Lugana DOC 2024
Turbiana · Lake Garda · approx. €21
Marangona’s principal wine. Two harvest dates, old vines, concrete ageing. Deep straw gold. Camomile, marzipan, yellow apple, hazelnut, wet stone. Taut and saline on the palate, with white peach, pear and fennel. A bitter almond foundation and lively acidity. An iodine-tinged finish that lingers for minutes. 94 Points Decanter, 93 Points Wine Enthusiast. Ageing potential: 10+ years. Only 500–600 cases per year.
Pairs with: risotto ai frutti di mare, lake trout in sage butter, vitello tonnato, aged goat’s cheese.
Chiaretto Riviera del Garda Classico DOC 2025
Groppello, Marzemino, Barbera, Sangiovese · Lake Garda · approx. €13
An organic rosé in the oldest tradition of Lake Garda. Four local grape varieties — led by Groppello, an autochthonous Lake Garda variety — direct-pressed. Delicate salmon pink. Rose blossom, peppermint, wild strawberries, raspberries. Light and dry on the palate, with crushed strawberry, sour cherry and orange zest. Crisp acidity, a mineral core and a saline finish. 92 Points Wine Enthusiast. Only 4,000 bottles per year.
Pairs with: aperitif, antipasti, sushi, grilled vegetables, Lake Garda sardines.
The Marangona Tasting Case
A complete journey through Marangona — six bottles, four wines:
- 2× Marangona Lugana 2025 — the entry-level wine, salty minerality for €13
- 1× Cemento Lugana 2024 — the Tre Bicchieri winner, skin contact in concrete
- 1× TreCampane Lugana 2024 — the flagship wine, 94 points Decanter
- 2× Chiaretto 2025 — organic rosé from four Lake Garda grape varieties, only 4,000 bottles/year
Order tasting pack
6 bottles · approx. €96
Organic viticulture on Lake Garda — why this is the exception
Of the 116 Lugana producers, only eight are organically certified. This is no coincidence: the region around Lake Garda, with its humid microclimate and calcareous clay soils, presents organic growers with particular challenges. Fungal pressure is high, conventional neighbours spray on adjacent plots, and the economic pressure within an appellation that primarily produces volume is enormous.
Marangona began experimenting with organic methods in 2012 and received certification in 2017. The transition was not a marketing decision, but a consequence of Alessandro’s conviction that the soil — not the cellar — defines the wine.
In practical terms, this means wildflowers between the vine rows instead of herbicides. Natural ground cover instead of bare earth. Compost and green manure instead of synthetic fertilisers. The biodiversity within the vineyard is measurably higher — from insects and grasses to the microorganisms in the soil that lend the wines their salty minerality.
The calcareous clay between Pozzolengo and Sirmione is the foundation. Formed from the sediments of a prehistoric lake, it contains finely distributed limestone that gives the Turbiana vines their characteristic tension. Added to this is the thermal regulation provided by Lake Garda: mild winters (rarely below 0°C), cool breezes in summer (the Ora from the lake), and a long, even ripening period that gives the grapes time to develop their aromas without losing acidity.
Lugana with which food?
Lugana is one of Italy’s most versatile food companions — from a light starter to a substantial fish dish. Here are four recommendations with the appropriate Marangona wines.
Lake Garda fish + Marangona Lugana
The salty minerality of the entry-level Lugana harmonises perfectly with freshwater fish from Lake Garda — Arctic char, trout, pike. Fritto misto, Lake Garda sardines and spaghetti alle vongole also work beautifully. The Lugana brings enough acidity to cut through fat, and enough body not to be overwhelmed. To the Lugana →
Pike-perch in sage butter + Cemento Lugana
The Tre Bicchieri winner, with its grippy texture and sage aromas, is perfectly suited to pan-fried pike-perch — or Arctic char in brown butter, turbot, or a ripe Taleggio. The polished tannins and surprising density of the Cemento stand up to more substantial dishes too. To the Cemento →
Seafood risotto + TreCampane Lugana
Risotto ai frutti di mare is the classic pairing. But the TreCampane, with its hazelnut note, also pairs beautifully with porcini mushroom risotto — an unexpected yet outstanding combination. Equally fine with sea trout in sage butter, vitello tonnato, or a well-aged goat’s cheese. To the TreCampane →
Antipasti + Chiaretto Rosé
The perfect aperitif wine and unbeatable with light antipasti: olives, bruschetta, mozzarella, grissini. But also an excellent choice with sushi, grilled vegetables or Lake Garda sardines. Four local grape varieties — led by Groppello — provide complexity without sacrificing lightness. To the Chiaretto →
Frequently Asked Questions about Lugana and Organic Lugana
What is Lugana?
Lugana is an Italian white wine from the eponymous DOC appellation on the southern shore of Lake Garda. It is made from 100% Turbiana (a local Trebbiano variant) and is renowned for its fresh minerality, vibrant acidity and surprising ageing potential. The appellation covers around 2,500 hectares across five communes between Lombardy and the Veneto.
What does organic Lugana mean?
Organic Lugana is Lugana wine produced from organically certified viticulture — without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilisers. Only 8 of the 116 Lugana producers are organically certified. Marangona has been among them since 2017 and was one of the pioneers. Organic Lugana is often characterised by more intense minerality and greater aromatic complexity, as the vines root more deeply and absorb more nutrients from the calcareous clay soils.
What does Lugana taste like?
Classic Lugana offers aromas of white blossom, citrus and green apple, with a delicate almond note. On the palate it shows vibrant acidity, saline minerality and flavours of white peach and melon. The finest examples — such as the Cemento or TreCampane from Marangona — also develop textural complexity with chamomile, hazelnut and crushed chalk, reminiscent of Burgundian Chardonnays.
What food does Lugana pair with?
Lugana is extremely versatile: it pairs beautifully with Lake Garda fish (Arctic char, trout, pike-perch), seafood (fritto misto, vongole), risotto (al limone, ai frutti di mare, with porcini), light pasta, vitello tonnato, grilled vegetables and cheese (Taleggio, aged goat’s cheese). The Chiaretto Rosé from Marangona is a perfect aperitif and companion to antipasti and sushi.
How much does a good Lugana cost?
Good organic Lugana starts at Marangona from €13 for the entry-level Lugana — outstanding value for money with 94 points from Wine Enthusiast. The premium wines Cemento (Tre Bicchieri, €21) and TreCampane (94 points Decanter, €21) compete qualitatively with considerably more expensive Burgundian whites. The tasting case of 6 bottles costs approximately €96.
Can Lugana age?
Yes — the finest Lugana wines have a surprising ageing potential. The TreCampane from Marangona can age comfortably for 10+ years, developing aromas of chamomile, marzipan and iodine over time. The Cemento also gains complexity with bottle age. The entry-level Lugana is best enjoyed within the first 3–4 years, though it still shows freshness after 5 years.
Discover Organic Lugana
From the calling card to the Tre Bicchieri winner — all wines from Marangona in one tasting case.