The Colli a Lago Cellar dates from 1908, when Count Bonmartini founded the origonal “Hirundo” cellar, part of a vast agricultural estate. Hirundo, from the latin hirundo-is means swallow.

The Count chose this name to underline the link between the migrating movements of the swallows and the 2 most inportant dates in wine production. Harvest coincides with their departure in September for warmer climates and the bottling process in spring with their return. The moreniche hills where the vineyards are situated are still a stopping place for the migrating swallows.

When Hirundo passed into the Formentini family, which has been operating for 4 generations in the wine trade, the name was changed to its current name Colli a Lago, this historical name was reserved for the production of spumante both “metodo classico” and “charmat”.

The Colli a Lago Cellar has had an important role in some important wine making moments in the area: the development  of fine spumanti made from Lugana grapes, the creation of an after dinner wine from Tocai grapes,  which became the Doc San Martino della Battaglia “Liquoroso”, the trust given to the production of a pure Lugana and the re-discovery of Tocai (again the Doc San Martino della Battaglia) through study and careful selection and cloning of the vines.

Through the years, around the Colli a Lago Cellar, a much larger set-up has built up. In 1983 the Selva Capuzza estate was founded, with the purchase of the existing farm house and vinyards next to it.

In 2003 the old farmhouse dating from the 14th century Borgo San Donino was bought.

The Colli a Lago Cellar now find themselves in a central position between Cascina Capuzza and Borgo San Donino, a path 870 steps long links the 3 and leads us from wine to food to the art of a lost time.

Colli a Lago offers a large space dedicated to tasting and events which during the summer season can be held under the large wood and brick portico, which looks out onto the truffel fields and vinyards.

  Wine production is based on the use of doc wines found in the area: Lugana, Garda Calssico and San Martino della Battaglia, all of which carry the Selva Capuzza name in honour of this beautiful and unique land.

Each wine has its own clear identity, and for those which have a particularly strong personality, they are given a name of a place, a vine, a antique memory….  

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