Garda Trentino, “Your taste, the right place”

Garda Trentino has more than just the attractions of sport, nature, fun and culture. There's also the food and wine waiting to be discovered, fruit of a combination of age-old tradition, unique local produce, and our innate sense of hospitality which guarantees a warm welcome everywhere you go. Every visit to Garda Trentino becomes a sensory experience, a voyage of discovery of the flavours, aromas and specialities of the area. The Holiday with Taste project, in collaboration with the Valle di Ledro Consortium and Rovereto and Vallagarina Tourist Board, is now in its seventh edition and targets these resources with a view to developing the range and quality the local tourism system has to offer.

The priceless treasure of local produce certified Dop, De.Co and Slow Food presidiums

Extra virgin olive oil, wines, carne salada, lake and farmed fish, fruit and vegetables, these are only some of the treasures Garda Trentino is capable of producing, thanks above all to its unique mild climate, a little corner of the Mediterranean in a spectacular mountain setting. Olives have been grown here for centuries with the utmost respect for the environment. These groves constitute an invaluable part of the local heritage, cared for and passed down from generation to generation, a guarantee of the highest quality. Garda Trentino extra virgin olive oil – the main native variety being Casaliva – grows above the 46th parallel and can boast the record of being produced further north than any other oil in the world. As far back as 1998 it was certified PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). In the summer of 2011 the Academy of Oil and the Olive was founded in Arco for the conservation, protection and development of the production, transformation and marketing of olive-growing in Alto Garda.

Another utterly unique local delicacy is Carne Salada, a speciality with origins dating back to before the 18th century. Made from beef rump, the production process take about ten days: it is covered with a mixture of rock salt, bay leaf, black peppercorns, juniper berries, garlic and a little rosemary and then put in a terracotta or glass container where it is pressed so that the water is removed and the flavours absorbed. Very lean and tasty, carne salada is the basic ingredient of many of the most famous dishes of the northern end of Lake Garda. Sliced thin it can be eaten raw or cooked (maybe together with beans) and in 2015 it was certified De.Co, Denomination of Local Origin, in recognition of its close ties to the area.

Local delicacies for the perfect holiday

But there is still a long list of local specialities, produce to delight your palate all year round. Of all the varieties of vegetables it is Torbole broccoli which thrives here and it has been recognised by the Slow Food Presidium. It has a sweet delicate flavour thanks to the strong northerly winds which prevent frost or ice from forming and ruining the florets and spoiling the flavour.

Speaking of fruits, in Dro in Valle del Sarca, a variety of Plum grows which is unequalled the world over, purple, with firm flesh, highly nutritious and certified PDO. In Drena, and also in the woods of Campi, Nago and Tenno, a particular Chestnut is harvested with medium sized fruit and this too is one of a kind. The sweet chestnuts from Campi as well as its delicious purée are both certified De.Co. (Denomination of local origin).

Another of the local treasures is berry fruit such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and currants which are used fresh and in cakes and pastries, as well as in jams, juices, syrups, sauces and grappa.

Garda Trentino is also blessed with a wealth of lake and farmed fish. These include species such as trout, whitefish or lavaret, the rare large carp, bleak, sardines, pike, tench, perch, eel, vairone, barbel and arctic char and farmed trout, the latter recently certified PGI. These are all fish of the highest quality and are prepared in particular ways such as, for example, tasty chub fishcakes, sardines with pasta, pike marinated en saor, bleak fried or used for zisam: the list of traditional and creative uses goes on and on.

Wine, a fresh taste of the Mediterranean in the mountains

The wines of Garda Trentino too are in a world of their own. Thanks to the Mediterranean microclimate and the local winds like the Ora and Pelèr and the long sunny days, this area is perfectly suited to growing a wide range of grapevines. What could be better than a good glass of white wine like that produced from the Nosiola grape or a full-bodied red like Cabernet or Merlot? The many Controlled Designation of Origin certified wines include Schiava and Lagrein, Chardonnay (used to produce wine as well as spumante like Trentodoc), Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer and Moscato Giallo.

These are wines to satisfy the most varied tastes, to enjoy at any time of the day, as an aperitif or at lunchtime, with the simplest or most elaborate dishes, and even with dessert.

And while we are on the subject of grapes, make sure not to miss the special Trentino Balsamic Vinegar and a number of spirits produced using traditional methods. Grappa is produced using the marcs of individual varieties of grape, producing quite intense aromas like that of Moscato Giallo or more delicate flavours like the grappas made from Nosiola, Schiava, Teroldego, Marzemino and other varieties. And for those who like unusual tastes, we have the aromatic grappas flavoured with herbs, berries and dried roots (rue, gentian, juniper and sweet woodruff) or fruit of the forest (blueberries, raspberries and wild strawberries). Finally, there are marvellous spirits distilled from fruits like the plums of Dro, apricots and pears.

A wine which deserves a special mention is Vino Santo (Slow Food Presidium). This wine owes its name to the particular production process: the Nosiola grape is allowed to shrivel up on special wooden grates called “arele”, and only then is pressed during Holy Week. The juice obtained by this process is allowed to ferment for at least three years in oak casks. It is perfect to accompany desserts made with nuts or to be sipped as a meditative wine.

The rich heritage of local produce

The natural environment in Garda Trentino and the local entrepreneurial spirit combine to produce the finest delicacies. These include a wide assortment of honeys, black truffle, Monte Baldo saffron, herbs, mature and fresh cheeses, yoghurt, ricotta and butter which come straight from the mountain pastures. And then there are the locally processed product which come from farther afield, an example being the coffee roasted by Torrefazione Omkafè in Arco, where you can also visit the Museum and discover the entire process from the countries of origin to the roasting, coffee-making traditions and early espresso machines. Or you can learn all about the age-old tradition of flour milling at the Molino Pellegrini mill on the Varoncello stream. 

Certified local produce on the Menu of Taste

All the suppliers participating in the project Holidays with Taste guarantee the quality of their produce which is made locally and in the Trento region at every stage of production, from manufacture to processing and distribution. A treasure trove spread out over the entire region where the visitor can enjoy trips to companies, farms, shops, food and wine tasting events and guided tours, a joy for all the senses. This abundance of local delicacies is the basis of traditional dishes and experiments with new combinations of ingredients to be found in the Themed Menus in the restaurants taking part in the project. Chefs celebrate local cuisine using traditional produce in a series of creative menus all year round with themed menus on offer in special periods during the season.

During these events visitors can savour true local specialities such as Strangolapreti, Carne Salada e Fasoi, Pane di Molche (bread made with the finest residue of the olive pressing process), Bigoi con le Aole, Canederli, Gnocchi di Susine di Dro, Strudel and Zisam. For other recipes go to the link: http://www.gardatrentino.it/it/ricette-tipiche-lago-di-garda/

Garda with Taste: celebrating a tradition of fine food and wine

The Holiday with Taste project highlights the regional specialities of Garda Trentino during all the events throughout the year which attract tourists in their droves in search of excitement and entertainment. At every single event, even those based around other themes, you are always sure to find some sort of food and wine connection. 

A special focus on the food and wine heritage of Garda Trentino is also during the Christmas celebrations, with events dedicated to the discovery of the winter culinary tradition and the cuisine available all year round.

Weekly markets are another way to discover the produce of Garda Trentino and these are held in various towns in the area. One of the most popular is the Arco Farmers' Market where every Tuesday from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. you can buy direct from the producer, find seasonal produce and meet the local farmers in person.

General Information

www.gardatrentino.it/food

Official hashtags

#gardafood #gardatrentino