Sansonina winery
In the mid-1990s, Carla Prospero and her daughter Nadia Zenato acquired a large 18th-century farm in the Sirmione area called Sansonina. With this purchase, they accepted a challenge to disprove some preconceptions. They set about producing exceptional red wine in a zone traditionally known for whites while demonstrating that well-structured red wine isn t necessarily men s work. The property is located in the zone that produces Lugana, one of the most famous white wines of the Lombard-Veneto region and by definition a feminine wine. But Sansonina is also the only vineyard in the area to have old Merlot vines, a highly valued grape used to make some of the world s most important red wines. With a typically feminine combination of determination and sensitivity, Carla and Nadia have succeeded in producing hearty, powerful and elegant wines. Uniquely, the estate has the areas only established Merlot vines. The name Sansonina derives from the legend of 'Samson .Local folklore has it that the Estate was once owned by a lady nicknamed 'Little Samson' known for her strong character. The first vintage obtained from a few rows of old Merlot vines: harvesting began on 21 October 1997; beyond the date, there is little to add about a vintage that is considered historic in terms of climate and grape condition and quality.