Wine Tourism in Veneto

In Veneto, wine is not simply a high-quality product: it is a way of exploring the region, understanding its landscapes and meeting the communities that have shaped them. From hills to plains, from volcanic soils to pre-Alpine valleys, winemaking reveals a Veneto that is surprisingly diverse from one area to another. 

The journey can begin among the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, where Prosecco Superiore DOCG is produced in a landscape of vineyards shaped over centuries by human labour and now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, wine is part of a landscape of  villages, villas, abbeys and panoramic views, turning wine tasting into a way of experiencing the territory . Between Asolo and Montello, the same vocation is expressed through Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG and the red wines of Montello, in an area where nature, culture and elegance come together. 

As you travel towards Verona, the story changes. The hills of Soave are the realm of Garganega, a grape variety capable of producing fresh, mineral and age-worthy wines. Around the walled village and its castle, Soave Classico and Soave Superiore DOCG reflect the distinctive character of the local soils and microclimates, while Recioto di Soave DOCG reveals their sweeter, more refined  side. 

Further north, Valpolicella offers one of the great chapters in Veneto’s winemaking tradition. Valpolicella, Ripasso, Recioto and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG reflect a wine culture built on the art of winemaking and the traditional drying of grapes. Among vineyards, dry-stone walls, olive trees, parish churches and Venetian villas, wine becomes an expression of the landscape and of a family heritage passed down from generation to generation. 

Veneto’s wine heritage extends well beyond its  best-known routes. On the slopes of the Lessinia, Durello is made from Durella, an indigenous grape variety naturally characterised by high acidity, producing fresh and savoury sparkling wines using either the Charmat Method or the Traditional Method. On  the Euganean Hills, a landscape shaped by ancient volcanic activity, Fior d’Arancio DOCG is produced  in dry, sparkling and passito styles, alongside the red wines of the area  and an agricultural tradition that is closely linked to olive oil, cured meats and local cuisine. 

This diversity is one of the defining features of Veneto’s wine offering. Alongside the region’s most renowned names, indigenous grape varieties and niche productions thrive: Recantina in Montello, Torchiato di Fregona in the Alta Marca area, Verdiso, the many expressions of the Euganean Hills and the wide range of wines produced around Verona. This is a heritage that goes far beyond what is found in the glass: it encompasses gestures, knowledge and stories. 

For this reason, Veneto’s Wine Routes are also routes through landscapes and culture. They can be explored on foot, by bicycle or e-bike; they lead into wineries, through vineyards and into cellars; they encounter restaurants, farm stays, villages, historic villas and places of art. Wine tasting thus becomes a gateway to the region, while the landscape, in turn, gives wine a deeper meaning. 

Veneto offers a wine mosaic in which every area preserves its own identity. Not one uniform  idea of wine, but many wines and many landscapes: a richness that invites visitors to return, because every route can reveal a different Veneto.

1. The Great Reds of Valpolicella: Visit a historic winery among the terraced vineyards of San Giorgio di Valpolicella, explore the grape-drying rooms and taste Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Ripasso and Recioto, discovering the secrets of an ancient tradition. 
2. The UNESCO Prosecco Hills: Explore the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene on a gentle hike or e-bike ride through the vineyards, followed by a tasting of Prosecco Superiore DOCG at a family-run winery or traditional frasca. 
3. Fine Whites in Soave: Combine wine and heritage along the Soave Wine Route. Visit wineries beneath the medieval castle and taste Soave Classico, an expression of the Garganega grape and the area’s distinctive volcanic soils. 
4. The Volcanic Wines of the Euganean Hills: Among volcanic hills and vineyards, visit a winery and discover Fior d’Arancio DOCG in its sparkling, passito and dry versions, alongside the area’s red wines. 
5. The Volcanic Bubbles of the Lessini Hills: Follow the Lessini Durello Wine Route and discover Traditional Method sparkling wines made from Durella grapes, grown on ancient volcanic soils between Verona and Vicenza. An experience centred on minerality, freshness and character. 

1. The Torcolato String Trick: The name of this extraordinary passito wine from Breganze comes from its traditional production method. Clusters of Vespaiola grapes  are twisted (“torcolati”) around strings hanging from attic ceilings, allowing air to circulate during the drying process.  
2. Bubbles Born from Volcanoes: The Soave and Lessinia areas lie on the remains of ancient extinct volcanoes. Their dark basaltic soils give Soave and Lessini Durello a distinctive mineral and savoury character, with an almost saline quality. 
3. Amarone, Born from a Mistake: Legend has it that Amarone was born in 1936 when a cellar worker in Valpolicella forgot about a barrel of Recioto. Fermentation continued until the sugars turned into alcohol. After tasting it, he reportedly exclaimed: “This isn’t bitter, it’s Amarone!” 

White grape varieties 

• Glera: The signature grape of Prosecco, grown mainly in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, known for its fresh, fruity and floral notes. 
• Garganega: A historic variety and the basis of Soave and Gambellara wines, producing elegant wines with aromas of white almond and remarkable ageing potential. 
• Vespaiola: An indigenous grape variety unique to the Breganze area, characterised by very high acidity, making it ideal for the production of Torcolato, a traditional passito wine. 
• Durella: An ancient and vigorous grape from the Lessinia area; its pronounced acidity and thick skins make it particularly suitable for Traditional Method sparkling wines. 
• Tai: Historically widespread across the Veneto plain and the Euganean Hills, producing full-bodied white wines with pleasant almond notes. 

Red grape varieties 

• Corvina Veronese: The backbone of Valpolicella wines—Amarone, Ripasso and Valpolicella DOC—as well as Bardolino; it provides colour, structure and notes of cherry and spice. 
• Corvinone: Once often confused with Corvina, it has large berries that are well suited to drying and enriches Veronese blends with intense spicy aromas. 
• Rondinella: A highly resistant and generous variety, essential in Valpolicella blends for its acidity, savoury character and bright ruby colour. 
• Raboso Piave: A historic indigenous variety from the Piave River area, known for its bold character, high tannins and acidity, and aromas of sour cherry. 
• Cabernet and Merlot: International varieties that have been perfectly acclimatised for more than a century in the Euganean Hills, Berici Hills and Piave area, where they produce full-bodied and elegant red blends. 

• Vinitaly (Verona, 11–14 April 2027): the major international wine event, with the off-site Vinitaly and the City programme bringing tastings, art and wine culture to the historic centre. 
• Primavera del Prosecco Superiore (March–July 2027): 15 wine exhibitions across the UNESCO hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, with tastings, vineyard walks and traditional cuisine. 
• Cantine Aperte (last weekend of May 2027): wineries throughout Veneto open their doors for tours, tastings and special events. 
• Hostaria Verona (October 2027): a festival celebrating Veronese wines through tastings, cicchetti and cultural events. 
• Festa dell’Uva e del Vino di Vo’ (September 2027): local traditions, Euganean Hills wines and regional flavours to celebrate the grape harvest. 
• Sorsi d’Autore (June–July 2027): tastings and encounters combining wine, culture and entertainment. 
• Calici Euganei (August): wine, food and landscapes come together in Arquà Petrarca during the magical nights of San Lorenzo. 
• Val Polis Cellae (second Sunday of October): discover Valpolicella through wineries, vineyards, tastings and local traditions

• Winte Taste Routes - The Guide to the flavours of Veneto

• Veneto.eu
• Strade Vino Veneto