Enoteca Mascareta ★ 4.6
18 by the glassCastello, Venice
A Castello wine bar and restaurant with late hours and a 700-label cellar. Mauro Lorenzon's list is celebrated for rare Italian bottles including Recioto, passito whites and aged Amarone; also carries a broad grappa selection.
The list: 700-bottle list including Recioto della Valpolicella, Ramandolo DOCG (Friulian sweet white), and a curated Italian passito selection; known for rare Veneto bottles
Tip: One of the very few Venice wine bars open past midnight; the back-cellar Recioto and dessert wine selection is among the most complete in the city.
Antica Bottega del Vino ★ 4.7
20 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
One of Verona's oldest and most respected wine venues, the Antica Bottega del Vino on Via Scudo di Francia operates a 3000-label cellar with particular depth in Amarone and Recioto. The Recioto collection is among the most comprehensive in the city.
The list: Historic cellar of 3000-plus labels including a deep Recioto della Valpolicella collection; also stocks aged Amarone as a dessert wine equivalent; grappa and Barolo Chinato available
Tip: The Antica Bottega's Recioto della Valpolicella selection runs to multiple vintages; ask the sommelier for the Quintarelli Recioto vertical if available.
Masi Agricola Serale (Evening Cellar Tasting) ★ 4.6
6 by the glassSant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico
Masi Agricola offers seasonal evening cellar experiences, including torchlight tours of the appassimento fruttai (drying lofts) during harvest season. The Ripasso tasting and Amarone vertical are particularly suited to evening formats.
The list: Seasonal evening tasting programmes including Amarone vertical; appassimento cellar tours by torchlight September-November
Tip: The torchlight appassimento tour is only available September-November when the drying lofts are full; book via the Masi website at least two weeks ahead.
Allegrini Harvest Evening Tasting ★ 4.7
5 by the glassFumane, Valpolicella Classico
Allegrini runs seasonal evening tasting programmes on the Corte Giara terraces during harvest. The Palazzo della Torre IGT, the La Poja single-vineyard Corvina and the Amarone are the centrepieces.
The list: Harvest-season evening tasting of Valpolicella, Palazzo della Torre and Amarone; vineyard-view terrace open until dusk
Tip: Allegrini's harvest season (September-October) evening tastings on the vineyard terrace are among the most atmospheric wine experiences in the Veneto; book the Palazzo della Torre tasting for the best seasonal-food pairing.
Osteria al Volto ★ 4.7
22 by the glassSan Marco, Venice
One of Venice's most wine-serious bacari, in operation since 1936 near the Rialto. The 1400-label cellar is far beyond typical bacaro scope; by-the-glass pours rotate constantly. Late closing makes it a reliable final stop.
The list: 1400-label cellar; one of Venice's deepest bacaro wine lists; 20-plus by-the-glass pours; open until midnight
Tip: The late-opening Venetian bacaro with the most serious wine list; staff recommendations at the counter are reliable for uncovering smaller-production Veneto bottles.
Giuseppe Quintarelli Cellar Visit (by appointment) ★ 4.9
4 by the glassCerro Veronese, Valpolicella Classico
The cellar at Cerro Veronese where the Quintarelli family continues to produce Amarone in the style of the legendary Giuseppe. Visits are by appointment and the tasting typically spans four to six wines from different vintages. An evening visit in harvest season is particularly atmospheric.
The list: Private cellar visit and tasting by appointment only; Quintarelli Amarone, Recioto and Primofiore; the most sought-after wine appointment in the Veneto
Tip: Quintarelli appointment requests must be submitted in writing months in advance; the family is selective about visitors. The experience is unlike any other wine tasting in Italy.