Cantina Do Spade ★ 4.5
10 by the glassSan Polo, Rialto, Venice
A Rialto bacaro claiming roots to 1415, offering cicchetti and ombra wine pours in a narrow wood-panelled room beside the Rialto market. Venetian house wines and a simple bottled selection; the authentic Venice bacaro experience.
The list: Classic Venetian bacaro with house carafe wines and bottled Veneto selections; vinyl playing softly in the back; Soave and Valpolicella by the ombra glass
Tip: One of the oldest continuously operating bacari in Venice (1415 per establishment lore); the intimate wood-panelled interior with classic Venetian music is the listening-bar atmosphere in its original form.
Osteria alle Testiere ★ 4.8
12 by the glassCastello, Venice
One of Venice's most romantically atmospheric small restaurants, with six candlelit tables in Castello. Famous for fresh Adriatic seafood with a wine list built around Soave Classico, Lugana and Friulian whites.
The list: 200-label cellar with strong Veneto white emphasis; Soave Classico and Lugana are the seafood house wines; candlelit six-table room
Tip: The tiny candlelit dining room has six tables; book six to eight weeks ahead. The sommelier's Soave vertical is the evening highlight.
Ristorante Il Desco ★ 4.9
20 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
A landmark Verona fine-dining institution with two Michelin stars, housed in a 16th-century palazzo near the Anastasia church. The cellar's Amarone vertical is among the most comprehensive in the Veneto and the candlelit rooms provide a definitive luxury wine evening.
The list: One of the finest Veneto cellars in a restaurant; 1000-plus labels including deep Amarone verticals, prestige Soave single-vineyards; two Michelin stars
Tip: Book the sommelier-led Amarone tasting menu for a candlelit journey through prestige Valpolicella from young Ripasso to aged Quintarelli-level Amarone.
Locanda 4 Cuochi ★ 4.5
10 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
A candlelit stone-walled restaurant in Verona centro storico with an artisan-wine focus and a thoughtfully curated short Veneto wine list. The four-chefs concept rotates the menu seasonally.
The list: Short but precisely curated list focused on Veneto artisan producers; candlelit stone interior; 10 by-the-glass pours
Tip: The tasting menu pairs regional Veneto dishes with small-producer wines not typically available in larger restaurants; the Valpolicella and Soave section is particularly interesting.
Ristorante Re Teodorico ★ 4.4
18 by the glassCastel San Pietro, Verona
A terrace restaurant at the Castel San Pietro hilltop above Verona's old town. Unobstructed views of the Arena and the Adige; an Amarone-focused wine list with candlelit table service from sunset.
The list: Panoramic hilltop terrace restaurant above Verona with a 200-label Veneto wine list; Amarone the signature pour; candlelit terrace open from sunset
Tip: The most spectacular wine-drinking view in Verona; the amphitheatre and medieval city spread below. Reserve a terrace table at sunset for the definitive Verona wine evening.
WOOBAR at W Venice ★ 4.3
12 by the glassSan Marco, Venice
The WOOBAR lounge and rooftop terrace at the W Venice hotel in San Marco, offering a premium cocktail and wine experience with Grand Canal views. Prosecco Superiore, Aperol Spritz and premium Amarone by the glass.
The list: Cocktail-focused lounge with Venetian Prosecco Superiore prominently on the menu; premium Amarone by the glass; terrace with Grand Canal views
Tip: The W Venice rooftop terrace at sunset with Prosecco Superiore in hand is one of the most dramatic wine moments available in the Veneto; go in September-October before the terrace closes for winter.