Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cristina
⏳ Drinking Window
2018 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled red meats, roasted game birds, and aged hard cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled on the morainic hills near the southern shores of Lake Garda in Lombardia, the historic Santa Cristina estate has been the soul of the Zenato family's winemaking journey since Sergio Zenato founded the winery in 1960. While the region is globally renowned for its white Lugana wines, Zenato recognized that the unique microclimate of the lake—tempered by gentle breezes—and the dense, mineral-rich clay soils of Santa Cristina offered an exceptional terroir for red Bordeaux varieties. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to that vision. Crafted from carefully selected grapes, it undergoes traditional red vinification with skin contact and is aged in oak casks to develop complexity. The resulting wine beautifully marries the structured, herbaceous, and dark-fruit character of Cabernet Sauvignon with the distinctive savory minerality and elegance imparted by the Garda terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1960 by Sergio and Carla Zenato on the southern banks of Lake Garda, Zenato is an iconic dual-terroir estate celebrated for elevating the profile of Turbiana (Trebbiano di Lugana) as well as mastering classic Veronese reds. The family's viticultural footprint spans mineral-laden, compacted morainic clays in Lugana alongside hillside limestone and calcareous marl terraces at Tenuta Costalunga in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. Managed today by second-generation siblings Alberto and Nadia Zenato, the estate emphasizes certified sustainable viticulture under Equalitas frameworks, marrying regional traditions with meticulous modern precision. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, structural longevity, and terroir fidelity, highlighted by temperature-controlled stainless steel aging for whites, wood maturation for selections, and refined appassimento techniques for red expressions. Benchmark labels include the flagship Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, Lugana San Benedetto, Metodo Classico Lugana Brut, and monumental red icons including Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva and Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore.