Capriano Del Colle Wine Region Guide

Capriano del Colle DOC is located in the wine Region of Lombardy, Italy. This well-regarded appellation offers an abound choice of red and white wines known throughout the world for their singular style and high quality. Indeed, the style of these remarkable wines is pretty diverse, apart from standard red and white wines it has an array of Superiore Bianco, Rosso Novello and Rosso Riserva, all of them distinctive with their unique taste. Capriano del Colle’s grace and finesse are largely due to the winemakers of the area and their great attention to detail in their methods. These elements induce a style of wine found nowhere else in Italy or the world for that matter. We encourage you to dive into these outstanding wines that make Capriano del Colle a favourite destination for wine lovers and connoisseurs worldwide. 

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Where is Capriano del Colle DOC?

Capriano del Colle wine appellation belongs to the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region, northern Italy. Neighbouring Poncarale commune, the appellation is 30 kilometres west of Lake Garda. The Capriano village itself is also in the area, it has 4000 inhabitants. The closest prominent wine appellations are Franciacorta, Botticino, San Martino Della Battaglia, Lugana and Garda. The city of Milan is not far away either, it is about 80 kilometres. Likewise, if you are in the region, you can take this huge advantage to discover and visit the nearest wineries to Milan, which also have plenty of regional wines to offer for any taste.

The history of Capriano del Colle

The commune of Capriano del Colle has Latin roots and was originally called “Capreanus “. In ancient times, the vine was cultivated as a medicative plant, which aided in the battle against pellagra. This serious epidemic disease, was common in the area by then. Still, the appellation, could not avoid the devastation of phylloxera, which took its hold in the early twentieth century and left behind a legacy of relatively lower-quality wines. However, after they got the right tools, local wine producers were able to restore the production of a plethora of high-quality wines again, especially ones from the native grape varieties. Consequently, Capriano del Colle earned the appellation status and is an established DOC since 1980. 

Capriano del Colle wine appellation terroir

The area of ​​Capriano del Colle is quite hilly and famous for its agricultural efficiency. Still, the most common crops are vines. The soils here are in fact generally clayey and free of limestone; the land enjoys excellent exposure and is particularly suitable for the cultivation of vines. Nevertheless, what sets Trebbiano-based wines apart is their ability to adapt to different soils and climates. The result is a mellow wine with distinct and diverse characteristics.

Capriano del Colle wine characteristics

The main grape variety to produce Capriano del Colle white is Trebbiano, which on its side represents three kinds of it, Trebbiano di Soave, Trebbiano di Lugana and Trebbiano Toscano. Bianco must comprise at least 60% of Trebbiano, other accepted varieties are some non-aromatic varieties like Chardonnay and Verdecchio. The wines that contain more than 85% of Trebbiano grapes are classified as Capriano del Colle white Trebbiano. Bianco Superiore of Capriano del Colle DOC comes from the same grapes, but must be aged for at least 12 months in a barrel. The Capriano del Colle white wines are characterized by floral and citrusy notes, and are delicate and pleasant with refreshing acidity. Capriano del Colle Rosso has a harmonic and fresh taste with notes of wood and wild berry, they must consist a minimum of 40% of Marzemino, 20% of Merlot and 10% of Sangiovese and the remaining is other authorized red varieties. It is also possible for Capriano del Colle to come from exclusively Marzemino grapes, meaning 100% single varietal, which is called Capriano del Colle Marzemino. 60% of grapes for producing Novello must undergo carbonic maceration and this wine is to be consumed young. On the other hand, Colle Rosso Riserva must be aged for at least 2 years in a barrel. The minimum alcohol content for Capriano del Colle wines is following 11% for Novello and standard red and white, 11.5% for Marzemino and 12% for Superiore and Riserva. 

Food to pair with Capriano del Colle wines

Casoncelli di Barbariga

Casoncelli di Barbariga is traditional stuffed ravioli-style pasta from the Brescia region, precisely from Barbariga, as the name can tell. It is based on an elastic dough made from finely ground flour, salt, eggs, and water. The filling typically consists of breadcrumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Grana Padano cheeses, ham, spinach, stock, nutmeg, garlic, sage, and parsley. This mouthwatering pasta dish is served with a silky sauce from herbs and butter. Topped with a generous amount of more Parmigiano cheese as a final touch, this Casoncelli is excellent to pair with a fine glass of Capriano del Colle wine.

Spiedo Bresciano

Spiedo is a traditional Italian dish typically found in the province of Brescia, especially around Lake Garda. It consists of different types of meat such as pork, beef, rabbit, and chicken and thinly sliced potatoes with sage. The meat and potatoes are seasoned with salt and then drizzled with butter before being cooked on skewers. This succulent dish, full of flavour, goes exceptionally well with Capriano del Colle red wine.

Manzo all'olio

​​Manzo all'olio is an ancient Italian dish, consisting of beef, olive oil, breadcrumbs, white wine, garlic, parsley, rosemary, anchovies, capers, and vegetables like carrots, celery and onions. Good meat dishes, like Manzo all'olio, require you to sear it first and then cook it slowly, to make meat tender while retaining its juice. You can serve this dish with polenta on the side and a glass of local wine.

Places to visit near Capriano del Colle wine appellation

Castello di Brescia

Perched atop the Cidneo Hill, The Castle is one of Italy's most fascinating complexes and the second-largest fortress in Europe. It still bears the marks of the various conquests that have taken place over history. The Castle is home to so many hidden passageways. They provide an atmosphere that's infused with mystery and some really great sights of the city. You can see all the way from Ronchi's slopes to the Brescia valleys to the Apennines and Alps.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta

In 1604, a cathedral designed by the architect Giovanbattista Lantana was built on the remains of an ancient basilica, San Pietro de Dom. Stunningly, the Botticino marble is the dominant material in the building of this cathedral, also represented in its Baroque façade. This construction has a unique history – a season of plague around 1630 and the financial difficulties, during construction, postponed the completion of the cathedral until 1825. Worth noting that its dome is the third highest one in Italy.

Parco delle Cave

The Parco delle Cave di Brescia is a supra-municipal park that covers an area of ​​approximately 960 hectares. It extends in the agricultural and natural areas of the districts of Buffalora, Sanpolino, San Polo Case, San Polo Cimabue and San Polo Parco. It includes groundwater lakes which give their name to the entire complex. So far, three public basins are open with cycling and pedestrian paths, and ornithological observation points, making up a total area of 125 hectares.

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