10-day wine tour of Italy | Valpolicella, Amarone and Chianti

Day 1: Departure for Venice

After picking up your hire car at the airport, drive approximately 130 kilometres to Cavaion Veronese, where you will stay for three nights in the Verona area in one of our hotels that also produce Valpolicella and Amarone wines.

Day 2: Verona

In elegant Verona, with its beautifully preserved amphitheatre and its “Piazza dei Signori”, an open-air salon, it is pleasant to stroll past beautiful shops. Don't forget to have a glass of “prosecco” in the picturesque Piazza delle Erbe!

Day 3: Lake Garda

Today, explore the shores of Lake Garda with towns such as Bardolino, known for its red wine, and Sirmione, located on a peninsula. Then continue to Salò, one of the most beautiful villages on the lake, and to Gardone Riviera with Gabriele d'Annunzio's “Il Vittoriale”. You can return by ferry.

Day 4: Mantua – Fiumana

The culinary region of Emilia-Romagna awaits you. Their passion for winemaking is intertwined with leur vie, personal experiences and the complexity of life. Be sure to stop in Mantua with its magnificent ducal palace of the Gonzagas. You will stay three times in a beautifully located wine resort, where winemaking is a true passion for the family!

Day 5: Ravenna

The charming city of Ravenna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, a pleasant walk takes you past magnificent Byzantine mosaics.

Day 6: Cesena and Forlì

In Cesena, dominated by the Malatesta castle, and in Forlì, with its weekly market, you can enjoy the Italian atmosphere, the beautiful shops and the delicious food, far from mass tourism. Stop off in the village of Bertinoro for a beautiful view and a glass of Albano wine.

Day 7: Fiumana – Chianti region

Via Bologna, you continue to Tuscany, where you will stay for 3 nights in one of our wine-producing hotels in the Chianti region, north of Siena.

Day 8: Siena, vino veritas

Siena, with its shell-shaped “Piazza del Campo”, where the famous “Palio” takes place every year, is an open-air museum.

Day 9: THE CHIANTISTREEK, SAN GIMIGNANO OR FLORENCE: LA VIE INTÉRIEURE

Today you will explore the famous wine region with villages such as Gaiole, Greve and Castellina in Chianti. Those who want culture can visit San Gimignano, the city with 13 towers, or the incomparable Florence.

Day 10: Return home

You return your hire car and fly back home with wonderful memories of your trip. As you look back on your journey, you realise that this is a moment you will never forget. How beautiful it was!

Events and Activities

You visit working wine estates in Valpolicella, Emilia-Romagna and Chianti. Tastings are accompanied by explanations from the family themselves, often in the cellar or among the vineyards.

Between tastings, you explore Verona, Mantua, Ravenna and Siena.

Wine Selection

The focus is on three regions and their typical grapes:

• Valpolicella: Amarone, Ripasso and Valpolicella Classico
• Emilia-Romagna: Albana and regional varieties
• Chianti region: Chianti Classico based on Sangiovese

Frequently asked questions about this wine tour of Italy

When is the best time to take this wine tour through northern and central Italy?

May and June are ideal for green vineyards. September and October are perfect for the vendemmia, when grapes are harvested in Valpolicella and Chianti.

Is a hire car necessary for this wine tour of Italy?

Yes. The wine estates in Valpolicella, Emilia-Romagna and Chianti are located outside city centres. With a hire car, you can travel easily between regions and smaller villages.

Do I need to be a wine connoisseur to appreciate this trip, or is it a cultural tour with wine as its theme?

No. This wine tour of Italy is all about getting to know the source. You will learn the difference between Amarone and Chianti on the spot, without needing any prior knowledge.