Groppello

What Is Groppello?

Groppello is a red grape of Lombardy, grown on the western shore of Lake Garda, in the Valtènesi hills of the province of Brescia. It makes light to medium-bodied reds and the pale Chiaretto rosé, with red cherry, raspberry, spice and fresh acidity.

The name comes from groppo, a local word for a knot, because the bunches are small and very compact. Groppello is not one single variety: the main types are Groppello Gentile, Groppello di Mocasina and Groppello di Santo Stefano. The Groppello di Revò of Trentino is a different grape. Groppello is grown almost nowhere else, and in the last few decades Valtènesi producers have made it the base of their local identity, especially for rosé.

Where Groppello Grows

• Valtènesi: the gentle hills between Salò, Desenzano and Lonato, on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. Glacial moraine soils, and a mild climate shaped by the lake.
• Other parts of the Garda area: small plantings, mostly in blends.

Groppello and Italian Denominations

• Valtènesi DOC: red and Chiaretto rosé based on Groppello, the main denomination for the grape.
• Riviera del Garda Bresciano DOC: the older name for wines from the same area, including Groppello and Chiaretto.
• Garda DOC: a wide DOC around the lake, also used for Groppello.

Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes

• Fruit: red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and red currant.
• Other notes: white pepper, almond, violet and herbs.
• Structure: light to medium body, bright ruby colour, soft tannins, fresh acidity.

Red Groppello is fresh and spicy, best within a few years. Chiaretto is made by short skin contact and is pale pink, with red berries, citrus and a light, savoury finish. It is best drunk young.

Food Pairing

• Lake fish: trout, perch, whitefish and grilled sardines from Lake Garda.
• Cured meats and light antipasti.
• Pasta and risotto: with vegetables, mushrooms or lake fish.
• White meat: chicken and rabbit.
• Chiaretto: as an aperitivo, with salads, or with pizza.

How to Choose and Where to Start

Start with a Valtènesi Chiaretto, then try a red Groppello. Producers worth knowing include Costaripa, Selva Capuzza, Cà Maiol, Citari, Pratello, Saottini, Ca' Lojera and Olivini. Ca' dei Frati, better known for Lugana, also makes Groppello-based wines.

Groppello is blended with Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese, and is a Lombard cousin in style to the light reds made from Corvina across the lake. Read our best Lombardy wines, the Italian rosé wine guide, or browse the grape varieties index.