Veneto is a northeastern Italian region stretching from the Dolomite Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Venice, its regional capital, is famed for its canals, Gothic architecture and Carnival celebrations. Veneto was part of the powerful Venetian Republic for more than 1,000 years, between the 7th and 18th centuries. Near alpine Lake Garda, medieval Verona is known as the setting of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet."
Verona is our focal point of this VIP tour. Many of the wineries, attractions and hot-spots are close to this famous city. From both sides of Lake Garda, the hills of Valpolicella, to Venice, to Bassano this trip is a must! Meet iconic wine makers in the Amarone world, tour the oldest Grapperia in all of Italy, to mountain top volcanic vineyards in Colli Euganei.
Verona is our focal point of this VIP tour. Many of the wineries, attractions and hot-spots are close to this famous city. From both sides of Lake Garda, the hills of Valpolicella, to Venice, to Bassano this trip is a must! Meet iconic wine makers in the Amarone world, tour the oldest Grapperia in all of Italy, to mountain top volcanic vineyards in Colli Euganei.
WINERIES
Tenuta Santa MariaIn the name of the Bertani family, there are centuries of experience in the production of wines. When, in the second half of the 1800s, the brothers Gaetano and Giovan Battista Bertani decided to set a new standard of excellence for their art, they were already working on a stable and established winemaking heritage. In fact, official documents dating back to the first half of the 15th century attest to the family's activity in the Valpolicella region. Combining their deep respect for tradition and love for the land with an innovative and shrewd commercial spirit in both production and cultivation, the Bertani brothers built a unique company of its kind for the Veneto region of the time. With a future-oriented spirit, they introduced revolutionary viticulture techniques developed by agronomist Jules Guyot,
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In the heart of the classic Valpolicella lies the elegant Villa Mosconi Bertani, the historic winery where the Bertani family's Amarone and Valpolicella were born and produced. Since its sixteenth-century origin, this splendid estate is known for the excellent wine production of the vineyards of the vast fenced orchard, the large spaces for drying the grapes and the large cellars for the long aging in wood. To enhance this exceptional terroir and its native varieties, the Guyot method was adopted in 1800 with its characteristic low yield and high density. In the eighteenth century the art of wine and humanistic culture met in the literary salon of Ippolito Pindemonte who was housed here in the frescoed hall and gardens. Even today the Bertani family preserves in this place the uniqueness of its varietal clones and the ancient methods of winemaking.
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Corte Sant'AldaOur good friend, Constanza, introduced us to CORTE SANT'ALDA on a trip to the Verona area in 2017. We immediately fell in love with the wines, the property and organic approach. And of course everyone loves Marinella Camerani!
“A wine cellar… A home… my family home. That’s how things should be, I feel. And, in an unending process that leaves no room for second thoughts, the choices in real life perfected through experience become the “right” choices even in the countryside, in the cellar, in work and in relationships with others, highlighting the values of life and work themselves. The quality and characteristics of wine are even the outcome of routine decisions. We and others including nature in respect and coherence… No excess or leaps forward… Only personal dedication to the search of the best possible balance between things.” |
CORTE SANT'ALDA is an amazing place to catch the sunset over the Verona hills.
Join us here to meet Marinella and her passion! |
Pra Winery
The Prà winery, although only started in the early 1980’s, has come to be not only one of the top producers in the Soave appellation, but also one of the most important and visionary white wine makers in all of Italy (now expanding into red wine as well)! The winery is run by Graziano Prà, whose family owned their vineyards for generations but never commercialized the wines in bottles. The vineyards are situated in the heart of the appellation, in Monteforte D’Alpone. Besides Soave, the winery also produces Valpolicella and Amarone from a vineyard that he purchased and planted in 2001, and whose truly remarkable results are only now being discovered.
PratelloAzienda Agricola Pratello is located in the hills on the Brescia shore of Lake Garda, and covers a total area of 120 hectares, of which 70 are vineyards.
It's 100% organic, they have a Farm-to-Table restaurant and horses. Walk thru the medieval town of Pratello and catch amazing views of Lake Garda. They also have a hotel on premise so you won't have to go far after your wine tasting. |
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Zenato
The Zenato winery possesses a strong link to the richness of its local history and culture, and continues to develop this connection today. The estate is based in a territory that surrounds Lake Garda, with an extraordinary microclimate that allows for an optimal growing season. Cherishing a ‘frank and simple’ approach to life, Zenato is committed to producing affordable wine of exceptional quality. With a passion for the land and a dedication to vigorous research, innovation and quality improvement, Sergio Zenato strived to eclipse past results. He crafted wines that are known for their quality and consistency.
LE FRAGHE
This vineyard is located in a micro climate on the East side on Lake Garda. The thermal heat from the lake draps this vineyard. This Northern part of Italy is know to have tropical fruits. The vineyard even had a Kiwi grove at one point. The Bardolino growing area is between the base of Lake Garda and the hills where Valpolicella is grown, not far from Verona in North-East Italy. Matilde Poggi's winery is outside of the town of Affi; her Bardolino contains more Corvina than normal, 80%, the remaining 20% being Rondinella (both varieties are indigenous). The grapes are estate-grown organically and the two varieties are picked and fermented seperately; after being aged in stainless-steel tanks the wine is bottled in the spring. This wine would be overwhelmed by oak, and the transparent winemaking style here is very capably assisted by the dynamic consulting winemaker Federico Giotto.
Grapperia Nardini
Be amazed by the 200 years of history of a family whose name has become synonymous – over centuries and generations – with a product that’s an icon of an entire nation.
Arriving in Bassano del Grappa, Bortolo Nardini was involved in an accident that forced him to stop in the city. During his convalescence, he had the opportunity to learn more about Bassano and to understand its strategic importance as a commercial crossroads between the Valsugana Valley and Venice. With farsightedness and the tenacious will to turn his vision into reality, he bought the Osteria al Ponte, today called the Grapperia Nardini, to produce grappa with a permanent still and sell it to the public. For the first time it was no longer the distiller with a mobile still going to the farmers, but the winegrowers themselves bringing in the pomace for the production of grappa. Bortolo called his grappa “Aquavite di Vinaccia” (eau-de-vie from grape pomace) spelled in the Latin way without the "c", playing on the etymology that could mean both "water of life" and "water from the vine". The first grappa of Italy was born, Nardini Grappa.
Arriving in Bassano del Grappa, Bortolo Nardini was involved in an accident that forced him to stop in the city. During his convalescence, he had the opportunity to learn more about Bassano and to understand its strategic importance as a commercial crossroads between the Valsugana Valley and Venice. With farsightedness and the tenacious will to turn his vision into reality, he bought the Osteria al Ponte, today called the Grapperia Nardini, to produce grappa with a permanent still and sell it to the public. For the first time it was no longer the distiller with a mobile still going to the farmers, but the winegrowers themselves bringing in the pomace for the production of grappa. Bortolo called his grappa “Aquavite di Vinaccia” (eau-de-vie from grape pomace) spelled in the Latin way without the "c", playing on the etymology that could mean both "water of life" and "water from the vine". The first grappa of Italy was born, Nardini Grappa.
sapori del portico ~ cheese Cave & Mostarda Shop
Welcome to the gastronomic space of Sapori del Portico , traditional witnesses of the true and genuine flavor for years, enclosed in a single and unique store for all connoisseurs.
Cheeses, from all over Italy, the best, the most sought after, the simplest and most traditional , and then again cured meats seasoned at the right point from the best producers. Then again our flavors, our cheeses, aged with patience and knowledge, in our cellars of the '400 following the tradition and bringing them to the table in the most modern style.
For those who cannot give up the smells, the warm and welcoming environment, the display counters full of every good thing as in the shops of the past, there is our shop, as always in Arbizzano di Negrar in Via San Francesco 48, just outside Verona, in Valpolicella, the ideal place to blend the pleasure of good products with the best wine ever, made here a few steps away, which artfully blends with our cured meats, cheeses, fine mustards and the rustic bread, that of the past.
Cheeses, from all over Italy, the best, the most sought after, the simplest and most traditional , and then again cured meats seasoned at the right point from the best producers. Then again our flavors, our cheeses, aged with patience and knowledge, in our cellars of the '400 following the tradition and bringing them to the table in the most modern style.
For those who cannot give up the smells, the warm and welcoming environment, the display counters full of every good thing as in the shops of the past, there is our shop, as always in Arbizzano di Negrar in Via San Francesco 48, just outside Verona, in Valpolicella, the ideal place to blend the pleasure of good products with the best wine ever, made here a few steps away, which artfully blends with our cured meats, cheeses, fine mustards and the rustic bread, that of the past.
HOTELS
Villa Giona
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Villa Giona stands in the heart of Valpolicella, in Cengia di Nogarine, in the municipality of San Pietro in Cariano and on the eastern slopes of the hill of Castelrotto, where the homonymous, enchanting village of stone houses and palaces stands.
Villa Giona was built by the Veronese family of the same name of Jewish origins between the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century, initially as a fortress house to defend the grounds and later expanded to a sumptuous summer residence. |
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Historical home of the Giona family, a family of Jewish origin living in Verona, was built between the end of 1400 and the early 1500s. It is at the beginning a fortress house to defend the fund.
It then became the summer residence of the family of the same name and opened architecturally according to the canons of the Renaissance residence.
At the same time, in the middle of the seventeenth century, the Italian garden rich in statues and fountains was created, a garden that embellishes the north and south sides of the house.
All around, in the romantic period, the English garden or romantic garden takes hold, which still today constitutes the dominant part of the park of Villa Giona and is characterized by the presence of tall trees and a small lake.
It then became the summer residence of the family of the same name and opened architecturally according to the canons of the Renaissance residence.
At the same time, in the middle of the seventeenth century, the Italian garden rich in statues and fountains was created, a garden that embellishes the north and south sides of the house.
All around, in the romantic period, the English garden or romantic garden takes hold, which still today constitutes the dominant part of the park of Villa Giona and is characterized by the presence of tall trees and a small lake.
Pratello Wine Resort
Pratello is not only a winery, it's a great hotel and name of the medieval village that it is located in.
Simple but tasteful rooms alternate with more highly decorated and beautifully furnished suites and apartments with typical country chic style. The large room with chestnut beams and white floor, however, is reserved for breakfast, for a welcoming and restorative start to the day. Our lavish buffet offers high-quality products, all home-made and with unforgettable flavours. Cakes, foccacias, biscuits and many other delights are baked punctually every morning, because for us it's a real pleasure to take good care of our guests right from the start!
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Il Relais is set in the 19th-century Palazzo Tommasi in the heart of Verona, opposite the Castelvecchio Castle. Rooms are elegantly furnished and feature wood floors, free Wi-Fi and an LCD TV.
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Il RelaisYour room has a view of Castelvecchio Castle or the River Adige. All rooms are air conditioned and feature satellite and pay-per-view channels and a private bathroom with slippers and toiletries.
An Italian breakfast of sweet items is served each morning. Il Relais is on the first floor of a historic building that has been completely renovated. Verona Arena is just 5 minutes away on foot. Piazza Erbe and Juliet's Balcony are around a 10-minute walk away. This is our guests' favourite part of Verona, according to independent reviews. |
Cities
Verona
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The city is famous as it is the place where William Shakespeare set his play Romeo and Juliet. Though situated two hours away from the more popular tourist destination, Venice, many people consider Verona a more relaxed, pleasant place to visit. In the year 2000 Verona has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its urban structure and architecture.
The true origin of Verona is some kind of mystery. It was probably founded by an early Italic or Celtic people and then conquered by the Romans. In 89 BC the city became a colonia and in 49 BC it became a municipium. The importance of Verona grew rapidly because of its position at the junction of four of the most important Roman roads of that time. |
Venice
The city is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character.
Bassano Del Grappa
Not only home for two of Italy's most famous Grapperias, Nardini & Poli, but the birthplace.
