White Grape · Lombardy
Turbiana is the white grape of Lugana DOC, grown on the clay-rich morainic shores south of Lake Garda across Lombardy and Veneto.
DNA work confirms its identity with Trebbiano di Soave and Verdicchio, though the Consorzio Tutela Lugana now prefers the historic name Turbiana over the older Trebbiano di Lugana label.
8
Bottles
From £17
Starting price
5
Retailers
Almond
Lemon
White peach
Apple
Flint
Wet stones
Acacia
Serve
10–12°C
Glass
Riesling Glass
Drink Within
3–5 d days
Cellar
-10 y years
8 wines available
2 retailers
Lugana
2 retailers
£17.10
2 retailers
Lugana
2 retailers
£19.72
2 retailers
Lugana
2 retailers
£20.65
2 retailers
Lugana
2 retailers
£33.48
1 retailer
Lugana
1 retailer
£22.39
1 retailer
Lugana
1 retailer
£20.88
£23.50
1 retailer
Lugana
1 retailer
£26.78
1 retailer
Lugana
1 retailer
£38.00
Turbiana is the historic name for the white grape that defines Lugana DOC, the appellation straddling the southern bank of Lake Garda between Brescia and Verona. For most of the twentieth century the variety travelled under the name Trebbiano di Lugana, and producers long suspected that their structured, age-worthy wines bore little relation to the workhorse Trebbiano family. DNA studies in the early 2000s settled the question: Turbiana is genetically identical to Trebbiano di Soave and to Verdicchio, the Marche grape behind Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC and Verdicchio di Matelica DOC. The Consorzio Tutela Lugana has since adopted Turbiana as the preferred name and discourages both older synonyms.
The Lugana zone covers the entire municipality of Sirmione plus parts of Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, Lonato del Garda and Pozzolengo. Heavy clay soils of glacial origin tame the grape's vigour, while the lake's thermal mass stretches ripening into cool autumn nights that build aromatic intensity. Five regulated styles share a 90 percent Turbiana minimum: Lugana, Lugana Superiore, Lugana Riserva, Lugana Spumante and Lugana Vendemmia Tardiva. The Consorzio recently registered three new clones (CTL1, CTL3 and CTL5) selected from historic piante madri after a decade of micro-vinification trials, all chosen for later ripening and brighter acidity.
In the glass Turbiana shows ripe apple, white peach and citrus pith over white flowers and crushed chalk, with an almondy bitter finish that thickens with skin contact. Its tartaric acidity carries the wine, and the thicker-than-average skins deliver a phenolic grip rare among Italian whites. Standard Lugana drinks well at one to three years; Superiore and Riserva develop flinty mineral, mandarin peel and toasted nut tones that can hold for a decade or more.
Yes. DNA studies have confirmed that Turbiana is genetically identical to Trebbiano di Soave and to Verdicchio, the Marche grape of Castelli di Jesi and Matelica. The three names describe one variety with regional traditions, and the Consorzio Tutela Lugana now favours Turbiana over the historic Trebbiano di Lugana label.
Turbiana is concentrated on the southern shore of Lake Garda inside the Lugana DOC, which covers the whole municipality of Sirmione plus parts of Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, Lonato del Garda and Pozzolengo across Lombardy and Veneto. As Trebbiano di Soave it appears in Soave DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG, Recioto di Soave DOCG and Gambellara DOC; as Verdicchio it dominates Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC and Verdicchio di Matelica DOC in the Marche.
Turbiana wines lead with ripe apple, white peach and citrus pith, framed by white flowers, crushed chalk and a saline, almondy finish. The variety's signature is a tartaric backbone that keeps even ripe vintages fresh, and a subtle phenolic grip from thicker-than-average skins that gives the wine more texture than most Italian whites.
Standard Lugana drinks well within one to three years of harvest. Lugana Superiore must age a year before release and rewards three to five more in bottle, while Lugana Riserva, released after twenty-four months including six in bottle, can hold for a decade or more, developing flinty mineral, mandarin peel and toasted almond tones.
The acidity, salinity and almondy bite suit the cuisine of Lake Garda and the Po plain. Standard Lugana works with antipasti misti, prosciutto crudo, lake fish like lavarello al burro and risotto al pesce di lago. Riserva and Superiore stand up to baccala mantecato, capesante grigliate and the saffron weight of risotto alla Milanese.
The Lugana DOC regulates five styles, all built on at least 90 percent Turbiana: still Lugana, the longer-aged Lugana Superiore and Lugana Riserva, traditional-method or Charmat Lugana Spumante, and the late-harvested Lugana Vendemmia Tardiva. In Veneto the same grape contributes to dry Soave and to the dried-grape sweet wine Recioto di Soave.
Curated cuisines, sections and dishes, from the home-country classics to global pairings that work.
Keep Exploring
Jump from Turbiana to the matching editorial wine-style guides.
