Valpolicella is a valley near Verona. It is well known all over the world for its wines: Recioto, ripasso and Amarone. It also offers a number of historical and art related things to see. relevant and interesting villages are: San Pietro Incariano, Fumane, Negrar. All of them are filled with wineries and places to eat, although the wineries are not as accessible to the public as some other world famous wine regions. For example, Negrar, "City of Wine," only has a few places to taste the local wines. Visiting Valpolicella will pay dividends for the wine tourist, but these will not be as easy to realize as in other famous wine cities in Italy like Montalcino or Montepulciano, where tasting rooms are thick on the ground.
Valpolicella is rather close to lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy.
Don't miss the Palladian Villas in Negrar, Pedemonte and San Pietro in cariano. In Molina, just a few kilometers up Fumane, there is the beautiful Cascate di Molina park, with natural falls and hikes in the nature.
A tour of Valpolicella wineries. Visit the vineyards, cellars, grape drying centers (for the making of the Amarone) and taste Valpolicella wines. Information on: http://www.veronissima.com/sito_inglese/html/wine_ing.htm
There is an outdoor market in Negrar on Mondays. It is a typical Italian weekly market.
Beside wine, Valpolicella offers a wide variety of local food: Monte Veronese: is the typical cheese produced in Verona mountains. It can be fresh or aged Soppressa: the typical salami of Veneto region. Risotto all'Amarone: Risotto made with Valpolicella top wine: the Amarone
If you visit Valpolicella, chances are you are interested in the local wines. If you want to taste wine, be aware that wine tourism in Valpolicella is not as developed as that in other world famous wine regions like Tuscany, Piedmont, or Burgundy. It can be challenging to taste the local wines in Valpolicella. You will need to do some homework in order to find the producers, and it is best to call ahead to arrange tastings. Some famous local wine producers, like Quintarelli, are not open to the public.
Notable local producers of amarone, ripasso, and recioto include Tomasso Bussola (Via Molino Turri 30, Negrar, Telephone: +39 045 750 1740, Fax: +39 045 601 1363), Zenato and Allegrini. Rubinelli Vajol. A little producer is Fratelli Vogadori (Via Vigolo, 16 Negrar Telephone +39 328 94 17 228 ) here you can always visit the winery and taste the wines. The winery is always avaible to support tourists to choose a good osteria, or a place where to sleep or to indicate what there is to see in Valpolicella. If you would like to sleep here, near the winery they have and apartment to rent.
- Verona - city in Veneto, northern Italy
- Torri del Benaco - commune in Province of Verona
- Lake Garda - lake in Italy