Wines from Fongaro

History

Fongaro is a sparkling wine house in Ronca, in the Val d'Alpone in the east of the province of Verona, inside the Lessinia area. Falstaff dates the estate to 1975 and credits Guerrino Fongaro. In the 1970s the family kept its Durella vines when many growers replaced them with Garganega, and it was among the first to bet on Durella for traditional method sparkling wine. Falstaff adds that from 1985 the winery made only Metodo Classico.

The land and the vineyards

The winery farms 12 hectares of vineyards. Durella grows on high hillsides of light, volcanic and basalt rich soil in the Monti Lessini. The vine is vigorous and resilient, usually trained on the Veronese pergola, with a thick skin and high acidity. Gambero Rosso says the estate has farmed fully organically since 1985, which was rare in northern Italy at the time.

The wines

Only sparkling wine is made here, about 70,000 bottles a year across five labels. A Lessini Durello must contain at least 85 percent Durella. The Lessini Durello Pas Dose Nera Riserva 2016 won Tre Bicchieri in the 2025 Vini d'Italia guide, and the Riserva Brut Viola and the Corallo Extra Brut are also made.

Today

Tanita Danese came into the family winery about five years before January 2025 and now holds a decision making role. She wants Durella to stay a niche grape and keep making only traditional method wines. About 80 percent of sales are in Veneto, and Japan is the first export market, followed by Switzerland, Germany, Estonia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Founded

1975

Vineyards (hectares)

12

Main grapes

Durella

Owners

Fongaro family