The Marron of San Zeno P.D.O. is the offspring of a perfectly successful marriage between the mildness of Lake Garda and the peculiarity of the Baldo. Known also as the Garden of Europe because of its great floristic heritage, the Baldo has the most varied morphological characteristics and therefore different climatic areas. On the side facing the lake the average temperatures, at equal altitude, are higher than on the side of the Vallagarina and there is a considerable difference with regard to rain: on the side facing the Garda it rains on average about 950mm, in particular in spring and autumn, whereas on the opposite side it rains as much as 1300mm. The result is this combination and therefore a humid-temperate climate, with acid, basically loose soil, and not superficial, through which the product expresses its unique characteristics.
The production and processing area of the Marron of San Zeno comprises a well defined ortion of this territory, between Lake Garda and the Adige river, in the municipalities included within the Mountain Communities of Monte Baldo: Brentino-Belluno, Brenzone, Caprino Veronese, Costermano, Ferrara di Monte Baldo and San Zeno di Montagna.
The P.D.O. marrons represent about 40% of the total marron production in the area of the Monte Baldo Veronese, and are on the increase. The fruits that "earn" their P.D.O. certification come exclusively from the local variety of Marrons, which is grown in the Castanetum, at between 250 and 900 meters a.s.l. This variety was selected in its area of origin from chestnut trees of autochthonous ecotype and propagated in time by agamogenesis, that is a reproductive system which actually produces clones of the generating individual.

"Between the Etsch and Lake Garda rises Mount Baldo, prealpine outpost onto the Po Valley.
A peculiar flora prospers on its slopes: olive trees, holm-oaks, cedars, lemon trees… chestnut trees. The latter, some centuries old and impregnated with the marvelous Benaco climate, kissed by the sun, have been offering from time immemorial, their marrons, a delicacy for the palate, to the people of the Lake so dear to Catullo"
Johann Wolfgang Goethe