Merlot PGI wine, an intense and smooth flavor, perfect for those seeking a quality product with unique character.
The Merlot grapes used to make this wine are grown in the hills of Lake Garda where the Mediterranean climate and lake breezes give the grapes a unique and distinctive flavor.
To the eye, this wine is a beautiful ruby red with purplish highlights; its bouquet is intense, pleasant, balanced with a slight herbaceous hint typical of Merlot grapes, and notes of cherry and black cherry are clearly recognizable. The taste of Merlot is harmonious, well-structured and dry, characterized by a perfect balance between softness and savoriness.
To fully enjoy its complexity, and its aromatic notes, Merlot PGI should be served at a temperature of between 18 and 20°C goes well with Italian dishes, such as tagliatelle with meat sauce, filet with green pepper, or a large steak such as Florentine steak.
The La Guarda winery, which produces this excellent wine, uses traditional and modern techniques to produce high quality wines.
Recommended pairings with Merlot PGI wine
It is a wine produced by a natural fermentation process that allowed all the primary aromas of the must and skins to be kept alive.
Merlot PGI is a wine for the entire meal: hors d’oeuvres with cured meats, blue cheeses, medium-long aged cheeses, with meat-based first courses, risottos with porcini mushrooms or radicchio, roasts, boiled meats, grilled meats, white and red meats, and game.
Accompany it with a strictly local salami, or with seasoned and flavorful cheeses such as Bagoss, Vaia, Maniva or goat cheeses like Stracapra or Single Malt, or with a succulent roast. It can be used to prepare game salmi and accompanies well on the table classic tagliatelle with meat sauce or a Florentine steak.
Merlot PGI wine data sheet:
- Origin: Muscoline, Lake Garda, Brescia, Italy;
- Alcohol content: 13.5% vol;
- Grape varieties: 100% Merlot.
Organoleptic Characteristics:
- Color: ruby red with violet hues;
- Taste: harmonious, well-structured and dry;
- Serving temperature: 18° to 20°.
La Guarda: an oasis of paradise in the hills of Lake Garda.
The owners, Luigi and Francesca, are exquisite people. Their winery is a small family-run winery nestled in the hills of Valtènesi, in the hamlet of Castrezzone and Polpenazze.
The climate here is perpetually breezy, a really important feature of the moraine soil.
A small business that believes strongly in the enhancement of the area.
Learn about the beautiful story of La Guarda Farm and why we chose them as our partner.
Merlot PGI del Lake di Garda: origin, pairing and perfect tasting
What is the Merlot PGI of Lake Garda?
This is a red wine made from Merlot grapes grown on the moraine hills of the Garda bresciano, in the PGI Benaco Bresciano area. The lake’s mild climate gives a soft, fruity profile: notes of cherry and plum, touches of herbs and light spices. The sip is balanced, with fine tannin and a clean finish. It comes from small local artisans (such as La Guarda Winery), attentive to quality and identity. It is the ideal “all meal” red for those who love old-fashioned flavors with a contemporary style.
How to store it? And how long does an open bottle last?
Keep bottles horizontal, in the dark, between 12-18°C, away from temperature changes and heat sources. A young Merlot PGI is at its best within 2-3 years of bottling (except for more structured cuvées). After opening, use an airtight cork or vacuum pump and store in the refrigerator: 2-3 days maintains fruit and pleasantness; bring it back to 16-18°C before serving. Tip: goblet wide but not excessive to balance aromas and freshness without over-oxygenating.
What to pair it with and at what temperature to serve it?
Serve it at 16-18°C in medium-high goblet. Its smoothness makes it versatile with Brescian lake and mountain cuisine.
Meats: spit-roasted, braised, grilled.
First courses: meat sauce, lasagna, casoncelli.
Cold cuts and cheeses: medium seasoning from the Brescian Valleys.
Tip: 15-20 minutes of oxygenation enhances aromas and roundness. With more savory dishes (aged cheeses or game) it holds up well thanks to ripe fruit and gentle tannin.
