Valtenesi
Valtènesi is the historical name of the hilly area on the west side of Lake Garda, which reaches the shores of the lake between Salò and Desenzano and precisely in the municipalities of Manerba del Garda, Moniga del Garda, Padenghe sul Garda, San Felice del Benaco and Soiano del Lago, without forgetting the charming Isola del Garda with its elegant Venetian neo-Gothic villa and its lush Italian gardens.
It is an area rich in cultivated fields with vineyards and olive groves that testify to the strong tradition and passion for the land, with a lot of ancient villages, villas, towers, medieval castles, churches and cellars that, only for their architectural beauty, deserve a visit.
The landscape is characterized by intense colors, enriched by the picturesque panorama of the lake with Monte Baldo in the background.
Among these valleys, a few km from the lake, there are the Sovenigo lakes, a real oasis of small lakes of rare beauty: a panorama that invites you to get off the car and take a walk among nature.
The territory of Valtènesi offers many possibilities both for bicycle enthusiasts and for lovers of trekking and walks in general. The numerous paths available split into cycle paths, paths and secondary roads with limited traffic.
If you want to do a relaxing ride, we recommend the route that leads from Lonato to Salò, in order to discover the beauty of the morainic hills of the lower Garda through points of interest such as the Rocca di Lonato, the castle of Padenghe, the historic center of Polpenazze and the lakefront of Salò. The route is 24 km long and, while pedaling surrounded by nature, you can admire wonderful views.
A visit to the suggestive castles in the areas of Lonato, Padenghe, Moniga, Manerba, Soiano, Puegnago and Polpenazze cannot certainly be missed. It is a real tour of the castles, almost all dating back to the 10th century and with a defensive function. Each of these castles is located in a suggestive place, surrounded by nature and breathtaking panoramas, where it is possible to admire the view over the Valtènesi and the Lake Garda.
In this area, the cultivation of olives and vines has very ancient origins dating back to pre-Roman times. Today thousands of travelers and wine lovers from all over the world choose these places as a destination for their holidays or for landscape/food and wine itineraries to taste local products.
THE VALTENESE WINES DOC
The Groppello grape, the environment and the climate of Lake Garda give Valtènesi wines unique and very particular characteristics that can be found in the two best known types of wine: claret and red wine.
The red and claret Valtènesi DOC wines (denomination of origin controlled since 2011) are produced with a minimum of 50% of grapes from Groppello vines: a variety of small and very compact bunches of grapes, with thin-skinned grapes, which loves sunny and breezy exposures.
Other grapes may also be used for the production of the DOC Valtènesi wines, as long as they are part of those authorized by the province of Brescia.
Valtènesi Chiaretto is undoubtedly the most renowned wine in the area: a rosé wine, with a more or less intense color, with a delicate and fruity aroma, which is fresh on the palate. Every year, at the beginning of June, the Chiaretto is celebrated in the famous “Italia in Rosa” festival which takes place in Moniga del Garda.
The Valtènesi red wine is instead characterized by particular ruby reflections, with a fresh scent that reminds the rose, but also with light spicy notes that refer to the flavors of cinnamon and cloves.
GARDA DOP VALTENESI OIL
The Garda DOP oil characteristic of this area is a refined, light and fruity product, which is produced through the collection and pressing of olives of the Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino types. The Garda Bresciano Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced in 27 municipalities in the province of Brescia, it is a product with ancient origins and fairly limited production.
It is an oil famous both for its sensorial and nutritional characteristics, and for the particular geographical position in which it is produced, as it represents one of the northernmost olive crops. The oil of Lake Garda Bresciano has the scent of aromatic herbs such as mint, sage and rosemary.
