Valpolicella is located in Italy’s most populous region, Veneto.  It is just north of the romantic city of Verona, made famous by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and where you can see the balcony at which Romeo professed his love.  Our trip will include a day in the historic city with a local tour guide.  There are many Roman ruins, historic castles, lookout towers, medieval bridges and basilicas (including one from a Shakespearean play), and last but not least, the impressive and grand Verona Arena, built in the 1st Century AD.  The city is full of enotecas and eateries. Sample many of Veneto’s regional wines, including Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone, Reciotto di Valpolicella sweet wine, other red blends, Soave Classico white wine and Prosecco.  You will learn about other indigenous varietals when we visit an enoteca in the city.

 

Valpolicella is a short ride from Verona.  Its terrain is lush and unlike Piedmont or Tuscany, there is a blend of vegetation resulting in gorgeous and varied hillside landscapes.  The vineyard hills are mix of vegetation including olive trees, cherry trees, and cypress, resulting in a more natural appearance with several pastoral settings.  Here, we will be visiting wineries where they produce the Valpolicella blend, made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rodinella and sometimes Molinara grapes.  Its better-known and loved style is Amarone, but Ripasso and Reciotto di Valpolicella are gaining in popularity.  You will learn about the wine making process, which goes back to Roman times and have plenty to sample on our winery visits. 

 

Valpolicella restaurants often serve both a red meat traditional ragu and a tasty alternative, white ragu made from duck, hen, and guinea fowl, which pairs well with the richer wines.  Verona is known for its traditional gnocchi.  If you dare, you can try horse, favored by the locals, perhaps in a stew made with local red wine.  Three regional cheeses you may be familiar with are Grana Padano, Asiago and Monte Veronese, as well as the local salumi is sopressa.

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Trentino-Alto Adige is Italy’s northernmost wine region, with dramatic and breathtaking landscape of the Italian Alps.  It is just north of Veneto and an easy drive from Valpolicella.  

 

Ruled by the Austrian Empire from the 12th Century to the end of World War I, both German and Italian languages are spoken, and towns, food, and native grape varietals have both a German and Italian name.  The area is still heavily influenced by Germanic culture, including the attention for detail and perfection.  Trentino-Alto Adige is still also known as Südtirol, the name for the area when under Austrian rule. 

 

The northern part of the region includes the Dolomite mountains and activities such as skiing, hiking, thermal spas, and other adventure sports can be added to the tour.  This dramatic landscape also makes a stunning backdrop for tasting the abundant aromatic and elegant wines from the region.

 

Wine tasting and pairing provides much variety and options for pairing with the local Austrian and Italian influenced cuisine. Viticulture dates back to the Etruscan period, and there is quite a history, which makes for fun learning.  Both indigenous and international grape varietals, white and reds, can be found in Trentino-Alto Adige.   There has been a shift from reds dominating the production and now 60% of the wines produced are white.  Grape varietals native to the area are making a comeback. They include the white Nosiola,  and red Teroldego, Marzemino, Schiava and Lagrein.  A number of international varietals, suitable to this alpine climate, exhibit finesse and elegance, with unique and robust flavors that reflect the varied terroir and soils.  Most planted international whites are Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner, and Kerner, some of which can also be found in Alsace, France and Austria.  Among the reds are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.