Massimago estate in the Mezzane Valley offers a guided walk through the historic organic vineyards followed by a visit to the old Amarone ageing cellar and tasting of Massimago's organic Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone. Combine with cooking school or yoga sessions available at the relais.
Tip: Mezzane is an emerging sub-zone of Valpolicella not well represented on export lists - the estate tasting gives direct access to a style rarely found in wine shops.
Address: Via Giare 21, 37030 Mezzane di Sotto (VR), Italy, Veneto
The Founder's Tour at Distilleria Andrea Da Ponte (est. 1892) gives access to the distillery's historical archive and a tasting of library spirits not available in standard sessions. Located in the UNESCO Prosecco hills of Treviso, ideal for combining with a Prosecco wine road drive.
Tip: Email visite@daponte.it to specify the Founder's Tour - it opens the historical grappa archive unlike the shorter Tasting and History tours.
Vespa-guided tours through the UNESCO Prosecco Superiore hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Routes wind through Cartizze, Rive single-vineyard zones, and hilltop villages. Tastings at estates along the route. Also available: e-bike variant. Operated through the Prosecco Hills tourism initiative.
Tip: The Cartizze sub-zone is the steepest section - request the Cartizze route for the most dramatic views and the region's highest-priced Prosecco at source.
Guided tours of the historic 18th-century production rooms at Italy's oldest grappa distillery, ending with a tasting flight of Nardini grappas on the historic Ponte Vecchio over the Brenta River. Reserve via visite@nardini.it; Tue-Sat only. Note: multiple flights of stairs to historic rooms.
Tip: Request the white Grappa Nardini alongside the aged Riserva in the tasting flight - the contrast in style is the clearest argument for barrel-aged grappa.
At Masi's newly opened Monteleone21 complex, guided tours take visitors through the fruttaio (drying loft) where Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grape bunches rest on bamboo racks for months to concentrate sugars for Amarone. Includes cellars, the Serego Alighieri possessioni, and Wine Bar 'Vino e Cucina' tasting.
Tip: October to December is prime fruttaio season - grapes are actively drying. In winter-spring the loft is empty but tours explain the technique in depth.
Bertani's Library Experience offers guided access to an Amarone vertical from 1958 to 2015 in restored historic tasting rooms. Three selected vintages are poured in each session. Among the deepest wine-history experiences in Italy. Also available: Valpolicella Classica Experience (EUR70).
Tip: Schedule for Cantine Aperte weekend (late May) when Bertani opens additional vintages. The 1967 and 1980 are the benchmark bottles.
Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde's e-bike tour through Marano di Valpolicella Classica vineyards. Seven Fantic fat-tyre e-bikes available. Guided ride ends at the 17th-century cellar for Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone tasting with local food. Gift certificates available. Rated 4.8/5.
Tip: The fat-tyre e-bikes handle the vineyard terrain confidently - suitable for all fitness levels including beginners.
