Tommasi launches two novelties that will be presented alongside Lugana doc 2020: Le Fornaci Rosé and, in the coming months, Lugana doc Riserva 2018
March 30th – The unique panorama of the Le Fornaci Estate, with its neat rows of vines descending to the shores of Lake Garda, unites grape varieties and territory. The Tommasi family is ready to step up the Le Fornaci project with the new vintage of a great classic of the Veronese wine school, Lugana DOC 2020, and two absolute novelties: Le Fornaci Rosé 2020 and Le Fornaci Lugana DOC Riserva 2018, which will be presented by the end of the summer..
Lugana is an elegant and intense wine that evokes the delicate and fresh aromas of Lake Garda – comments Giancarlo Tommasi, oenologist for Tommasi Family Estates – It is also a heritage wine that encapsulates the unique qualities of a territory that our family has been committed to promoting for generations. Le Fornaci thus evolved into a bold and articulate project to pay homage to the Lake’s incredible landscapes and to one of Italy’s best wine regions. We express this through the wines we produce, wine tourism and, above all, the culture of hospitality that has always set us apart. In light of the past year, 2021 will probably not be an easy year, but we have decided to aim high and to give a sign: the Tommasi family is here to stay. Thanks to the passionate work of the women and men on our estates, we are ready to move forward with exciting news. In addition to the new Lugana 2020, Le Fornaci Rosé, an exclusive, intriguing wine with a floral bouquet and a vibrant sip, is on the way; and in the coming months, Le Fornaci Lugana Riserva 2018 will represent the pinnacle expression of Lake Garda, and our idea of a perfect union between vine and territory.
Le Fornaci Rosé is a blend of the indigenous Turbiana (90%) and Rondinella (10%) grape varieties, and a symbolic union of terroirs from two sides of the lake. Turbiana from Tenuta Le Fornaci, just outside Sirmione, meets Rondinella from a vineyard we own in Peschiera del Garda to create a wine with a unique colour that is the result of meticulous work that began with the careful selection of the grapes, through to the delicate phases of pressing and vinification. The soft colour, reminiscent of rose petals, is the prelude to a rich bouquet: fragrant and fine, with aromas of pink grapefruit, peach blossom, hints of minerals and tangerine peel. Matured in stainless steel, Le Fornaci Rosé is fresh, fragrant and subtle, with a vibrant acidity that brings back notes of citrus peel, and a lingering, harmonious finish. The complexity of this rosé encapsulates the philosophy of the Tommasi family, which promotes quality production through technological innovation while respecting the environment and the great winemaking traditions of the region.
Served chilled, Le Fornaci Rosé is perfect as an aperitif and with delicate hors d’oeuvres, or for the impromptu pizza night. The structure of the wine makes it a stand out served with seafood main courses or oriental cuisine. This is the wine with the versatility that makes it ideal for everyday, casual dining.
Le Fornaci Lugana DOC Riserva 2018 will be ready by the end of the summer. The wine was produced from a manual selection of the grapes ripened to produce a structured and intensely expressive wine. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, 25% of the production rests in 500-litre French wooden barrels and 75% in stainless steel tanks, both for 18 months. This is followed by blending and bottle resting for at least 6 months.
The project Le Fornaci Lugana is unstoppable, and is one again ready to excite palates with new wines by Tommasi.
Harvest 2020:
Highlights: The vines were productive with healthy grapes and abundant bunches. The overall production quantity was within average, while the potential quality is high thanks to the good levels of acidity.
Harvest: The mid-September harvest was manual, with some nocturnal machine harvest to get the grapes in the cellar at optimal ripeness and temperature, preserving aromas and flavours. Climatological considerations: The 2020 season was characterised by a dry winter and two months, April and May, with very little rain. The first quarter of the year was warmer than average. A warm dry Spring led to slightly precocious vine development, from bud break to flowering, and at the onset of ripening. The abundant rainfall in June and July led to significant vegetative growth. The summer was characterised by a few very hot days, repeated rainfall and, unfortunately, also some disruptive hailstorms.
Agronomic considerations: the climatic and meteorological events did not affect quality, but did impact quantity because the most problematic situations occurred before veraison.
Le Fornaci in numbers: 45 hectares of which 40 are now in production – Average yield 80 /ql per hectare
2016 vintage: Le Fornaci Lugana doc 100,000 bottles – 15 hectares in production, average yield 60 q/ha
2017 vintage: Le Fornaci Lugana doc 120,000 bottles – 15 hectares in production, average yield 80 q/ha
2018 vintage: Le Fornaci Lugana doc 220,000 bottles – 30 hectares in production, average yield 80 q/ha
2019 vintage: Le Fornaci Lugana doc 350,000 bottles – 40 hectares in production, average yield 80 q/ha
2020 vintage: Le Fornaci Lugana doc 350,000 bottles – 40 hectares in production, average yield 80q/ha
Bottles sold in 2019:
Italy 35% Abroad 65%
Main foreign countries: Germany, Switzerland, UK, USA, Canada
New products 2021:
Le Fornaci Rosè 2020: 17,300 bottles – launch April 2021
Le Fornaci Lugana Riserva doc 2018: 3,327 bottles – launch September 2021
TOMMASI FAMILY ESTATES
A family and a group working for the present and the future of Italian wine. Tommasi represents the history of Valpolicella and beyond. With six wine estates in five regions – Tommasi in Veneto, Caseo in Lombardy, Casisano in Montalcino and Poggio al Tufo in the Tuscan Maremma, Surani in Apulia and Paternoster in Basilicata – and a partnership in Chianti Classico with La Massa, the group’s aim is to create great wines, enhancing the terroir. The De Buris cultural and wine project completes the picture, linked to the Valpollicella Classica area, the recovery of Villa De Buris and Amarone Classico doc Riserva. Four generations of pioneers, explorers, forerunners and above all visionaries, attentive to the value of quality at every stage of production, respectful of traditional procedures but open to experimentation. With the experience and unique knowledge cultivated and preserved over time, the Tommasi Family intends to promote each territory, linking it to a path of sustainability and hospitality. The care for hospitality is expressed through the structures of Villa Quaranta in Valpolicella, Albergo Mazzanti and Caffè Dante Bistrot in Verona and Agriturismo Poggio al Tufo in Pitigliano, Tuscan Maremma.
