History
The house of the Counts of Arco
The name Conti d'Arco comes from the aristocratic family that owned the medieval castle standing on the high spur of Arco. From this position, the castle overlooks the vine-growing basin between Lake Garda and the Brenta Dolomites.
The brand's historical identity is rooted in the noble house of the Counts of Arco. Odorico, Vinciguerra, Prospero and Andrea d'Arco are associated with episodes that acquired an almost legendary character over the centuries. The family maintained close relations with other prominent houses, including the Gonzagas, and a number of its members served as advisers to emperors.
Several Counts of Arco were also known for their cultural interests. Nicolò was a poet and humanist, while Giorgio was devoted to music and counted Mozart among his friends.
The historic “caneve”
Deep, cool cellars known locally as caneve formed part of both the castle and the Renaissance buildings of the village. These underground spaces were used to preserve wine received through the county's system of tithes, giving wine a defined place in the economic and architectural life associated with the house of Arco.
Vine selection in the territory
The hills around Arco had already been chosen for the selection of valued grape varieties during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The relevant vine-growing landscape extends through the lower Valle Sarca and Valle dei Laghi, from the surroundings of Castel Toblino and Sarche di Calavino to the fortress of Arco.
The contemporary range
Conti d'Arco now comprises Trentino DOC wines and sparkling wines selected from suitable production zones across the region. Winemakers supervise the production chain from vineyard to bottle. Trentino's sparkling-wine tradition is represented by a range of Trento DOC wines produced by the Classic Method, historically identified as the Talento Trento DOC line. The broader portfolio also encompasses Prosecco DOC, red and white Trentino wines, Teroldego Rotaliano DOC and Müller Thurgau Frizzante Trevenezie IGT.
Terroir
The territory lies between Lake Garda and the Brenta Dolomites, where Castello d'Arco commands the valley from a high rocky spur. The surrounding landscape is composed of rolling hills that have been associated with the selection of valued grape varieties since the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The principal vine-growing areas identified with Conti d'Arco are the lower Valle Sarca and the Valle dei Laghi. Vineyards occur around Castel Toblino, beside the lake of the same name, and at Sarche di Calavino, continuing southward to the fortress of Arco. Here the vineyards follow and interact with the shape of the landscape, creating an appearance characterized as both exotic and Mediterranean.
The wider Trentino sourcing area combines terrain and climatic conditions suited to still-wine production with an established tradition of sparkling winemaking.
Winemaking
Grapes are selected from suitable production zones in Trentino rather than from individually presented estate parcels. Winemakers supervise the production chain continuously from the vineyard through to bottling.
Conti d'Arco's winemakers oversee every stage of production from vineyard to bottle. The portfolio combines still wines with sparkling wines and draws upon Trentino's established sparkling-wine tradition.
The Trento DOC part of the range is made by the Classic Method and includes Brut, Riserva Brut and Rosé Brut expressions. These sparkling wines are also identified with the historical Talento Trento DOC designation within the description of the range.