Between Lake Como and Brianza there is a small wine denomination waiting to be discovered

Terre Lariane IGT: Small-scale viticulture between the lake and the hills

Behind the iconic Lario postcard, a small winemaking company called Terre Lariane IGT is hidden, scattered throughout. It's a young appellation, established in 2008, and perhaps for this very reason, it retains the authentic charm of the lesser-known. Here, you won't find industrial expanses of vines, but rather an almost tailor-made viticulture, made up of small plots of land reclaimed from the rock, reflected directly in the water or shaping the spectacular slopes of Montevecchia. The beauty of wine tourism in these areas lies precisely in the surprise. There's not a single wine that dominates the scene, but rather a playful mosaic of flavors.

Each producer is a craftsman who interprets the land in their own way: from a fresh and fragrant white made with Riesling or the native Verdese to smooth reds made with Merlot. Production is intentionally limited, and that's precisely the beauty of it. These wines are so tied to their terroir that they almost don't like to travel: to taste them, you have to come here, hear about them from the winemakers, find them in the wine shops on the coast or on the menus of the restaurants dotting the shores. They thus become the perfect souvenir of a special day.

What to know about Verdese

Verdese is the only native grape exclusively from Lake Como. It risked total extinction and is now produced and bottled as a single varietal only by Cantine Angelinetta in Domaso and La Costa, in Brianza. How does it taste in the glass? It's a white wine with a remarkable personality. As soon as its skin turns from green to gold, it lends the must an unexpected structure, thanks to a light presence of tannins. On the nose, it offers intense citrus aromas (mandarin, pink grapefruit) and notes of dried fruit. On the palate, it's straight, savory, taut, and extremely fresh. Ordering a glass of single varietal Verdese is a true taste experience, tasting something that exists only and exclusively on those hills.

Two territories, two souls of Larian wine

The Terre Lariane IGT regulations cover a vast area, spread across the provinces of Como and Lecco. The appellation is divided into two macro-zones with completely different climates, soils, and agricultural traditions. If you decide to explore the area, you'll notice that the map changes depending on where you are.

• The lakeside soul (Upper Lake - Domaso): up here, the climate is breezy and tempered by the lake. The dominant grape varieties are Nordic whites, lovers of freshness: Riesling and Sauvignon, which here develop a sharp acidity and intense mineral aromas. Among the reds, the tradition of small plots of Schiava and Marzemino endures, perfect for light, drinkable, and convivial wines.
• The heart of the hills (Brianza Lecco - Montevecchia): heading south, in the Curone Park, the soils become calcareous and marly. Here, the true kings are the international grape varieties that have found a second home: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds, which produce surprisingly structured and timeless wines, and Chardonnay or Pinot Blanc for the whites.

From Montevecchia to Domaso, two experiences less than an hour apart.

This diversity means that a trip to Montevecchia will offer a completely different wine experience than a weekend in Domaso. That's the beauty of the trip: less than an hour apart, you find two distinct and fascinating wine worlds.