CONSORZIO GARDA DOC | WINE TELLS ITS STORY IN NEW LANGUAGES

Interpreting change, experimenting with new languages, and finding ever-changing ways to bring wine to people. The Garda DOC Consortium 's communications efforts have developed along these lines, combining product promotion with a growing focus on innovation, new ways of consuming, and the creation of experiences that engage diverse audiences.

" This year we wanted to experiment with new ways of talking about Garda DOC wines, not just by talking about the wine itself, but by creating opportunities to understand what our appellation aspires to be today ," says Paolo Fiorini, President of the Garda DOC Consortium . " We are proud to have worked on various fronts, from our pioneering approach to low-alcohol products to our collaborations with leading gastronomic excellences. These projects share the same desire to make Garda DOC a contemporary appellation, capable of capturing diverse interests and experimenting with new languages to describe its wines and the territory where they are produced ."

Among the areas in which the Consortium has chosen to invest is that of low-alcohol wines. The Garda DOC Consortium was the first Italian denomination to introduce a reduced-alcohol typology into its regulations, an innovation that demonstrates the desire to understand ongoing changes and provide producers with tools capable of responding to new market demands.

Starting with the 2025 harvest, the appellation began producing a low-alcohol wine, achieved through careful work in the vineyard and cellar, with the goal of keeping the alcohol content below 9%, without resorting to dealcohol removal. This lighter and more informed approach allows the appellation to engage with a new generation of consumers, embracing change without straying from the terroir's winemaking identity.

Another area of communication activity concerns the dialogue between wine and gastronomy, which the Consortium continues to develop through its collaboration with Salame di Varzi DOP and Montasio DOP . This meeting of denominations allows for new opportunities to tell the story of quality Italian products, highlighting the versatility of Garda DOC wines for pairing.

The television project "In Cucina con Sonia" and the episodes produced with Luca Pappagallo , airing on Food Network, fit this bill. These episodes showcased the encounter between excellent DOP products and Garda DOC wines. The recipes featured Salame di Varzi DOP and Montasio DOP cheese, paired with a selection of wines from the appellation. Through the preparation of the dishes and the suggested pairings, the programs brought Garda DOC into culinary formats, introducing audiences to the dialogue between gastronomy and wine through a direct and accessible language.

Low alcohol content and a connection with cuisine are thus two directions on the same path. This strategy allows the Consortium to broaden the ways in which it presents Garda DOC, creating new points of contact with the public and promoting the designation through diverse perspectives, from new consumption models to a dialogue with gastronomy.