On the hills near Sommacampagna, between Custoza and Staffalo, there is a wine estate surrounded by the moraine hills of Lake Garda. The estate was founded as a monastery by friars from Santa Maria Della Scala, who grew their own food to live off-the land in perpetuity. But they also made wine, which is how their legacy keeps living on today. Almost two centuries later, in 1958, Massimo Bonomo rented two rooms and the adjacent fields. His family opened a Frasca, a typical Venetian bulk wine shop. They made wine and grew peaches, strawberries, and wheat.
Then, on August 8, 1988, the big turnaround: Massimo Bonomo’s sons, Eligio and Claudio, decided to turn their father’s business around. They converted all family lands into vineyards and established the Monte del Frà wine estate as their only financial foothold.
After years of growth and hard work, the family would soon add new DOC-classified territories: Valpolicella, Custoza, Lugana, Soave, and Bardolino. Today, the family owns 137 hectares/338 acres and works another rented 68/168.
Today, after over 60 years, the Bonomo family is still managing Monte del Frà: the second generation, with the brothers Eligio and Claudio, has been joined by the third with Marica.
Monte del Frà translates as ‘Hill of Monks’ and is in the heart of the Bianco di Custoza DOC. It is one of the most progressive and dynamic producers in the region and has been particularly innovative in its adoption of modern viticultural techniques. The most famous of the Custoza di Monte del Frà, known throughout the world for its extraordinary characteristics, Cà del Magro is the result of a lucky intuition and years of work in the cellar, until it found the true sense of being superior: according the less is more principle, in Cà del Magro the vineyard speaks, which in its 55 years of evolution has taken on a unique character.
This is Cà del Magro: the son of a unique situation that can never be repeated. It is a wine with great aging capabilities, ennobled by the passage of time. Longevity, complexity and charm with the stylistic key of Custoza elegance, which never dominates and never lets itself be dominated.
This bold and bright white presents with notes of tree fruits (notably apple, peach, and citrus), and stony minerals.
This wine pairs well with Asian, or Asian-inspired, dishes: Think sushi, seafood, or Thai noodle dishes.
”Summertime in the glass. Savory, Refreshing … limestone notes of lemon and lime, so, so refreshing. Best Served with appetizers- spicy, asian or mediterranean foods, and or any chicken or fish dish.”
– Jim Lufty, Fine Wine Source