Azienda Agricola Pratello

The Pratello Agricultural Company not only aims to offer a sip of Garda in every bottle, but also seeks to challenge common beliefs by focusing on unusual grape varieties and complex wines that often aim to go beyond the identity of the territory, presenting themselves as an alternative to more traditional typicity.

 

The winery is located on the hills adjacent to Lake Garda on the Brescia side, covering a territory of 100 hectares in total, of which 45 hectares are vineyards. Being in a hilly area, a part of the company is reserved for natural forest, while the remaining plots are cultivated with cereals, always with great respect for the environment. An incredible encounter with nature, simple and incisive. The hill where the company is structured is at a height of 200 meters: from here, one can oversee the entire lake, from Sirmione to Monte Baldo, with breathtaking views. Lake Garda, quietly resting, emanates its gentle warmth, heating the land, vines, olives, and hearts. Here, everything is peace, everything is tradition; the farmers, with their wrinkles carved by the sun and wind, speak of ancient experiences and absolute quality, honesty in the products cultivated in this land, the Brescia side of the lower Lake Garda.

 

Pratello is a company born within the tradition, with a long history rooted back to 1860: that year marks the first records of Pratello as a business unit. Since then, vine and olive are the most important crops. Today, the company operates under certified organic farming: a goal achieved in 2004, "a choice dictated by our philosophy of life," says Vincenzo Bertola, the current owner of the company.

 

The experience of Vincenzo Bertola, the traditions of his father Dante, together with the expertise of agronomist Paolo Di Francesco, enable them to obtain great products from these plots. Each plot has been carefully studied: structural analysis of the soil, sun exposure, and its microclimate to best determine the most suitable grape variety to cultivate, always respecting compatibility with organic farming standards.

 

The soil is of morenic type, a result of the deglaciation of prehistoric alpine glaciers, gravelly and very loose, with clay present, ideal for grape cultivation, with a very low yield per hectare but of great quality. The fabulous climate of Lake Garda, serving as a thermal flywheel, creates a microclimate that is of great importance for the ripening of grapes. All red grapes are cultivated in a basin at 180 m above sea level, while white grapes are grown on a gentle hillside with southern exposure, at 250 m above sea level. Certification of organic agriculture (Mediterranean Certification Institute) covers the entire area of the company.