WINE ITINERARY DESIGN
Over the years, I often found myself on the road, visiting vineyards perched atop sunny hillsides or tucked in lush valleys. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures, and warm-hearted people behind Italy and Europe's most renowned wine regions. Nothing would provide more pleasure to guide you through the discovery of these regions, either in person or through the design of a self-guided itinerary.
Prosecco + Venezia
Although the area where Prosecco can be produced covers a vast expanse across the Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, its ancestral home is in a hilly area at the foothills of the Alps. The villages of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano frame the heart of Prosecco’s finest terroirs. This unique landscape, nestled between the Alpine chain and the blue waters of the Gulf of Venezia, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features steep, verdant hills and precipitous vineyards where the Glera grape reaches its highest expression, producing the best wines from its most gifted interpreters.
Montalcino
The Val d’Orcia, where Montalcino lies, embodies the classic Italian landscape. Wheat fields, hilltop villages, vineyards, and patches of cypresses make this slice of southern Tuscany one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Soft, gentle hills largely dominate the landscape, with one notable exception: the hill of Montalcino. The village sits at the summit, its slopes covered with grapevines, olive groves, forests of old oaks, and Mediterranean herbs. Although Sangiovese is Italy’s most widely planted red grape, it is in Montalcino that this varietal reaches its pinnacle in complexity of flavors and age-worthiness.
Alsace
The uneven cobblestones and half-timbered houses, densely packed in the quaint villages at the foothills of the Vosges, seem to come straight from Grimms' Fairy Tales. The series of hills forming the Alsatian wine district, running parallel to the Rhine River, is dotted with idyllic towns, ghostly castles, lush forests, and vineyard-lined slopes, with occasional church spires towering over the rural landscape. Numerous indigenous varietals and talented growers make Alsace one of the most fascinating wine destinations in Europe.
Alto-Adige
One of Italy's most photogenic regions, Trentino Alto Adige, offers it all: dense forests, mountain lakes, rolling meadows, rocky crests, picturesque villages, and steep vineyards. Trentino, the southern part, features lower mountain elevations and a lesser Germanic influence. Conversely, Alto Adige, the northern sub-region, boasts rugged peaks, and many elements of the Teutonic culture. Vines grow in a fairy-tale landscape, often on steep hillsides, tended by an army of young winemakers who are reshaping the region's wine scene.
Valpolicella Classica
The moniker "Classico" refers to Valpolicella’s original growing zone, which later expanded to include a large area north and east of Verona. While talented producers and excellent wines can be found in every sub-zone, the Classico sector remains the region's benchmark. Here, Lake Garda's influence is most pronounced, with its impact on climate and weather patterns profoundly defining this terroir. The three parallel valleys of Fumane, Marano, and Negrar form the core of Valpolicella Classica, with a bucolic landscape dominated by cherry trees, olive groves, and terraced vineyards.
Barolo
One of the most recognized names in the wine world, Barolo is synonymous with Italian wine aristocracy and one of the world's most beautiful regions. This slice of Italy is where Nebbiolo produces some of the most sought-after wines on the planet. However, despite its popularity, the region can be intimidating and difficult to decode due to the varying altitudes, exposures, and soil compositions across its surface. Nevertheless, Barolo is an irresistible attraction not only for its renowned winemaking heritage but also for its regional cuisine, illustrious history, and breathtaking landscapes.
Côte d’Or
Côte d’Or’s narrow strip of land is the most fascinating wine region on Earth. This is the birthplace of the notion of terroir and home to many of the most unattainable wines on the planet. Despite its fame, the Côte d’Or maintains an understated, rural nature. A trip along its gentle slopes is not only a seminal experience for any wine lover but also a captivating journey through one of Europe’s most historic regions, blessed with a rich gastronomic heritage.
Collio Goriziano
Located along the Slovenian border, the crescent moon-shaped region of Collio enjoys ideal growing conditions due to the cool breezes from the Alps and the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea. This region is one of Italy’s elite wine areas, known for its unique native grape varieties and an ever-growing number of talented winemakers. Collio is a frontier land with a strong identity, where Italian culture blends with Austro-Hungarian and Slavic influences, evident in the architecture, regional cuisine, vinification approach, and local dialect.
Valpolicella + Soave
The eastern Valpolicella, an extension of the original “Classica” sub-zone, stretches north and east of Verona. Its eastern border touches the small Soave wine region, dominated by a medieval fortress visible from afar. Defensive walls run through rows of vines, overlooking the sleepy village below. While Valpolicella focuses on red wine, with Corvina as the main component of the blend, Soave is exclusively a white wine stronghold, primarily through the Garganega varietal, which transforms the local terroirs into liquid form by emphasizing individual sub-zones and crus.
Liguria
The vineyards of coastal Liguria appear on small clearings carved from the dense Mediterranean shrubs covering the coastline. Tending grapevines on the steep slopes, plunging into the turquoise Mediterranean waters, is a daring endeavor. The plants cling to the vertical walls, battered by the elements and constantly sprayed by sea mist. It's no wonder these saline whites perfectly complement the local cuisine. Enjoying a glass of Pigato with a plate of Acciughe di Monterosso amidst the roar of crashing waves is an unforgettable experience.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda, Italy’s largest body of water, is the northernmost place in continental Europe where lemons can successfully grow. Historically, citrus cultivation has been a defining element of the region’s identity, along with olive trees and grapevines. Various wine regions develop around the lake’s southern shore. Although they share common physical characteristics, the districts differ greatly in grape varietals and wine styles. Ideal growing conditions, influenced by the interplay between the lake and the Alps, make the wines of Lake Garda a treasure of Italian enology, second to none.
Valtellina
Valtellina is Italy’s counterpart to France’s Côte-Rôtie. Both regions have vineyards on vertiginous slopes and focus on a single varietal to express the unique characteristics of each terroir. While Syrah dominates Côte-Rôtie, Nebbiolo is the undisputed king in Valtellina. Grapevines grow on the rocky, south-facing hillsides of the Alps, following the Adda River as it flows into Lake Como. It's a place of rugged beauty, with hillsides held together by primitive stone walls, where the extremes of nature find a masterful interpreter in the nuanced Nebbiolo.