Sansonina: 

Sansonina, the name given to the impressive 18th-century cascina near Sirmione, derives from Samson. …Samson, the judge called upon by God to overthrow the enemies of Israel, a man with superhuman strength: a vigorous, virile hero whose long hair – a classic female attribute – was the source of his strength.

Sansonina seemingly belonged to a woman who owned the estate centuries ago and was nicknamed “Little Samson” for her strong character.

Sansonina, the wine that also bears this name, has the dual masculine/feminine character suggested by the estate’s history.

Lugana:

Sansonina comes from the production zone of Lugana, one of most famous white wines produced in Veneto, Lombardy, and by definition a feminine wine.
Uniquely in this territory Sansonina possesses an old vineyard planted to Merlot, a variety famous as the base of some of the world’s best reds.

In the mid-1990s, Carla Prospero acquired Sansonina with the specific idea of taking on a challenge and overcoming prejudices: her aim was to create a great red in a zone traditionally known for its whites and to show that a woman is more than capable of producing a structured red wine. 

For more information about the Merlot, but also the other wines from Sansonina, please click on ‘Sansonina.’