Palazzo Giusti Wine Bar ★ 4.3
14 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
The wine bar of a boutique historic hotel near the Arena, offering a curated Veneto and Italian selection in a refined setting. A more intimate alternative to the crowded Arena-district bars.
The list: Hotel wine bar in a 16th-century palazzo; focus on Amarone and Valpolicella; evening tasting menus available
Tip: Palatial Veronese setting for an Amarone evening; the palazzo wine bar is quieter than Piazza Bra and favoured by trade visitors during Vinitaly.
JW Venice Bar ★ 4.2
14 by the glassGiudecca, Venice
The bar and terrace lounge of the JW Marriott Venice on Isola delle Rose, accessible by private hotel ferry. Premium Veneto wine list with Prosecco Superiore and Lugana prominently featured; panoramic lagoon views.
The list: Five-star island hotel bar with premium Venetian wines; Prosecco Superiore and Lugana by the glass; lagoon-view terrace
Tip: The JW Venice sits on its own private island near Giudecca; the terrace lounge at night with Prosecco and views across the lagoon is one of the most atmospheric evening wine moments in Venice.
Enoteca di Piazza delle Erbe ★ 4.3
20 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
A broad-stocked enoteca near Piazza delle Erbe with one of the better Recioto and Italian passito selections in central Verona. The fortified specialists category is focused on the regional Recioto styles alongside imported Marsala and Barolo Chinato.
The list: Broad Italian wine list including Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, Recioto di Soave DOCG and other passito styles; some fortified Italian bottles including Sicilian Marsala and Barolo Chinato
Tip: Ask for the Recioto della Valpolicella alongside Barolo Chinato for an end-of-evening pairing; neither appears on many Veneto wine lists.
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.