I’ve recently posted about the first parts of our trip through Switzerland and Lake Como. This post covers the last leg of our trip in the Valpolicella wine country as well as in Venice.
Valpolicella
We drove from Lake Como to Valpolicella, which spans about 95 square miles within Veneto and produces the most famous red wine in the Veneto region. If you want to learn more about Valpolicella and their wines, check out my recent spotlight on the region’s wines, here.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Villa Cordevigo, a Relais & Chateaux resort of less than 40 suites located between Veneto and Lake Garda. Beautiful classic landscaping, lush gardens, an inviting pool and lots of space in the manor-house like premises. The rooms were a little dated but all-in-all, it was a gorgeous place to stay. We were so relaxed!
Where We Ate
San Vigilio
San Vigilio Restaurant was the first place we stopped in Lake Garda and it was a breath of fresh air! So calm and quiet after the buzz of Lake Como, where we were prior. We were seated right by the water, and had a delicious lunch of fresh seafood.
Cantina Buglioni
Cantina Buglioni was somewhere we stopped while wine tasting in the Valpolicella Classico region. We sat at at table overlooking the vines and it was heavenly. This a wine food spot — the menu is curated to complement the wines of the region. We loved our meal here!
Stella d’Italia
Stella d’Italia is in Lake Garda, located in the main square of the town of Pastrengo. We felt very welcomed, the food was authentic and thoughtful, and we enjoyed the wine.
Where We Wine Tasted
Mosnel
Mosnel is a producer of Franciacorta, which is Italy’s sparkling wine, made in the Lombardy region. Franciacorta is known for its high quality and distinctive flavor, which is based on ripe fruit and low sugar levels. It’s always fun to start your day off with a sparkling wine tasting!
Quintarelli
The Quintarelli Winery is a family-owned Valpolicella producer and represents the history of these bold and unique wines that have made this area so popular. The winery is surrounded by a valley where the estate rows extend. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. Quintarelli only hosts a small amount of visitors — you definitely want to secure an appointment before visiting.
Tedeschi
Tedeschi was a true highlight of our trip. Similar to Quintarelli, Tedeschi is family-owned and a must-stop for Valpolicella wines. Our host, Valentina, was a true joy to share the history of the family and share their wines, and we were even able to connect with Riccardo Tedeschi, who is their Enologist and a part of the family. We drank more than our fair share of amazing wines there and had a delightful experience thanks to Valentina and Riccardo.
Beyond wine tasting, there are many other things to do in the Veneto region where wines are grown. We did not make it to the city of Verona (of Romeo & Juliet fame!) but hear it is definitely worth a stop. We did book a truffle hunting excursion which was definitely memorable although much more than we bargained for in terms of adventure!
Venice
Venice was our last stop of the trip. There will be photo overload in this section because we’ve all seen how gorgeous Venice is, so how could I resist! We were just in Venice for a couple of days, but few highlights for us are below.
What We Did
City Touring
The best thing we did in Venice was to get a private guide and have them show us around. We did this first thing in the morning, and the canals and walkways were super quiet at at that time. It’s a great way to see the hits quickly and get in all the learning!
Where We Ate
The Terrace
The Terrace was absolutely lovely and “very Venice”. I’d recommend the drinks, dinner and desserts. We definitely indulged!
Lunch at Cip’s
As many of you know I’m a huge Belmond hotel fan. While we didn’t stay here, naturally we had to at least go and visit! We booked lunch on the water and it was a dream. How many times do you ride to lunch in a water taxi and sit overlooking the water?
Ristorante Quadri
We capped off our trip with a true dining experience at Quadri. This spot has a Michelin start, has been highly lauded by all the big reviewers, and is on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Quadri enjoys a sublime view over Piazza San Marco. It’s opulent and elegant but comfortable, and felt like a true celebration.
We were definitely in an amazing rhythm by the end of the trip and it was hard to leave. I love seeing our big smiles in these last photos. La dolce vita, indeed!
Ciao!
xx—BB
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