History: Four Generations of Passionate Winemakers

The heart of a vast agricultural estate since the 16th century, the current appearance of Villa Bottona—named after the large barrels once stored in the cellar—dates back to 1872, when Count Girolamo Brognoligo renovated the 18th-century family home in the then-fashionable neo-Gothic style.

Today, the fourth generation of the family, Luca Pannone, with a profound historical and cultural sensibility, has innovated the estate’s wines, preserving the spirit of the place and the memory of his great-grandmother Renata Barbaro (daughter of Count Brognoligo’s wife from his second marriage to Count Barbaro), a great lover of the estate’s wines, which she would often drink chilled beneath the villa’s battlements, overlooking Lake Garda on one side and the park on the other. And it is precisely from here that Luca sets out in his Ape Calessino to take his guests on a discovery of the magnificent world of Villa Bottona.

A journey through the history of Villa Bottona, guardian of a four-generation tradition and a legacy to be preserved and revived every day in its biodynamic wines and products.

The Experience: A Calessino among the Vineyards and History

To rediscover the landscape at a slow, almost old-world pace, the most suitable vehicle is undoubtedly the Ape Calessino, the iconic passenger-carrying version of the Piaggio Ape, created in the late 1940s and later an icon of La Dolce Vita.

Open to all by reservation, the tour begins with a pick-up at the Villa Bottona wine relais, the nearby Natiia Wine Relais, or at the entrance to the ancient residence. The experience includes a visit to the villa, including the surrounding woods, to see the pristine nature as it was around the lake in the 18th century, the biodynamic gardens, and the park. The tour then continues past the vineyards that produce Bardolino and the olive groves that produce Villa Bottona DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Throughout the tour, Luca’s story is vivid, immersing visitors in the history of a place and its magical wines. The tour always concludes with a tasting of the estate’s wines, paired with local products.

The Wines: the character of Garda in a glass

The Villa Bottona vineyards, cultivated biodynamically, give life to a selection of wines bearing the iconic name “La Quercia,” a reference to the property’s centuries-old nature and one of its oldest trees.

Among the wines are the great local classics: the Bardolino DOC and the Chiaretto rosé; La Quercia Bianco, an elegant blend (based on Garganega grapes) with aromas of white flowers and yellow-fleshed fruit; La Quercia Rosso, typically made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, for those seeking depth and spicy notes; and Le Bolle della Quercia, a fresh and lively sparkling wine (made from Fernanda grapes), perfect as an aperitif.

The latest additions are Luca Pannone’s NoName wines, created without a front label: a white made from Garganega, Trebbiano, and Incrocio Manzoni grapes, and a red made from Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara, and Rondinella. Customizable, they are “nameless” because they are open to the future, with a production of only about 1,000 bottles that will follow Natiia and its “natural” development over time.

One of the most beautiful experiences Lake Garda offers, exceptional before sunset, culminating with a glass overlooking the lake when it bathes in a thousand shades of gold and purple.

The Secret

The Natiia wine resort extends across the grounds of Villa Bottona and was designed to be the ideal “rural hamlet” of the estate, conceived as small residences clustered around a central courtyard with a well and an inn.

Useful Info

Villa Bottona
Natiia Wine Resort
Via Fossalta 17
37017 Lazise, Verona
Tel. +39 045 8240690

Ape Calessino Tour: from €95, duration 1.5 hours, with tasting of 3 glasses of Villa Bottona wines accompanied by a platter of cured meats and cheeses.