Bardolino Wine: A Cultural and Historical Exploration
The history and culture of Bardolino
Bardolino is the name of a renowned wine and, at the same time, the designation of a town on Lake Garda where grapes have been cultivated for centuries. The story of this wine is therefore inextricably linked to the experiences of the local inhabitants. Angelo Peretti, in his recently published book by Morganti publisher, explores “playing with memories and the marks of the culture in which Bardolino wine was born.”
Traveling through the territory where Bardolino is produced and narrating as if recounting the story of a friend “whose growth and success he has followed,” the author, a freelance journalist and trustee of Slow Food for the Verona area, reconstructs the history of one of the most beloved and well-known wines from Verona.
Image and Historical Hypotheses
The cover image of the book «Il Bardolino», recently presented at the Gardesana restaurant in Torri, depicts a Lombard ciborium with grapevine motifs, located in the church of San Vito, in Cortelline di Bardolino. A fragment of history that bears witness to the noble lineage of this wine and provides the starting point for the author’s hypothesis that, contrary to other authoritative opinions, the origin of Benacense viticulture may have centered on the hills overlooking Bardolino, where the church of San Vito is located—recently uncovered with the remains of a Roman villa.
Traditions and the Debate About Wine
In his narration, “filtered through memories, the rituals, methods, and customs of the wine civilization, of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” Peretti does not overlook the current debate regarding wine as food, wine as beverage, wine as pleasure, and its health benefits. For Bacchus enthusiasts, the book, rich in images, dedicates many beautiful pages to the environmental and cultural assets of the classic, DOC production area, not forgetting products like fish, truffles, asparagus, peaches, honey, and tortellini.
An exploration following the aroma of Bardolino, discovering the natural beauties and signs of art and history. But also exploring sacred festivals, secular rites, and building knowledge with the Conservatory of Protection, the Bardolino brotherhood, museums, culinary schools, and local events.
Pairings, Producers, and Catullus’s Verses
The book also features illustrations of the rules for correct food and wine pairings and describes, providing a profile of the production style and atmosphere typical of over forty producer companies. A continuous praise for Bardolino? Not always. The volume begins with the famous Latin verses by Catullus, “Odi et Amo,” expressing the poet’s ambivalence toward Lesbia, and by extension, the author’s feelings toward Bardolino.
“Perhaps I somewhat hate it because, like Catullus’s Lesbia, it wants to please everyone… but then I love it… because it is my wine… a faithful friend”.
