La Dolce Vita Wine Tours - Epicurean Tours

From Venice to Amarone
Italy's Northern Renaissance

Since antiquity, semi-dried grapes have worked their magic in Valpolicella, the wine zone near Verona. Today, Amarone prevails as the most luscious modern expression of this ancient style. Discover its many facets, along with the new face of Soave, which has enjoyed a renaissance in quality. In addition, explore Verona, home to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, impressive Roman ruins, and lovely painted facades.

Highlights:
• Wine estates: Tommasi, Quintarelli, Accordini, Tedeschi, Pieropan & more
• The city of Verona, with Juliet's balcony, a Roman coliseum & more
• Giotto's Arena Chapel fresco cycle in Padua

2011 dates: [5 days/4 nights] September 26-30
Cost: $2,745; single room supplement $300
Meet: Venice
Depart: Verona

Pre-Tour - Venice
We recommend flying into Venice to spend a day or more sightseeing in this enchanting city.

Day 1 - Padua & Soave
Pick-up in Venice at the Piazzale Roma. Drive to the Renaissance city of Padua and see one of the most famous monuments of the Early Renaissance: the Arena Chapel, a small church covered floor-to-ceiling with a fresco cycle by master artist Giotto. We'll lunch in town, then head to Soave, an ancient walled city with a crenellated castle. Our tasting will be at Pieropan, a leading pioneer who turned Soave from a mass-produced white into a lovely, seductive wine made from single vineyards. Afterwards, we'll head to our hotel at the Musella winery. Dinner is in the Roman city of Verona. This might include risotto with cuttlefish (risotto nero), pasta and bean soup (pasta e fasoi), thick spaghetti with duck ragout (bigoli con l'anatra), or the beloved Venetian chocolate dessert tiramisu. D

Day 2 - Verona, the Painted City
Today we visit Verona, the Renaissance home of Romeo and Juliet. The morning is dedicated to a guided walking tour of Verona, an elegant city with an impressive Roman coliseum, bustling outdoor markets, and colorfully frescoed buildings. After lunch, we'll head to the Valpolicella wine zone, where we'll explore Amarone. One of Italy's most magnificent and coveted red wines, it's made from partially dried grapes following a tradition as old as the Romans. Our winery visits today focus on the classic territory of Amarone, on the western side of Verona. Here we'll learn why this distinctive wine makes enophiles swoon. One tour & tasting is at the cult winery Quintarelli (a classicist) and other is at the small family-run estate of Stefano Accordini (a modernist). Dinner at a local trattoria. B, D

Day 3 - Amarone Est - The Newcomers
Today focuses Amarone's up-and-coming zone on the eastern side of Verona. Our two wineries include Trabucchi and Tenuta Sant' Antonio, where we'll learn more about how dried grapes are used in making the succulent Amarone and recioto wines. The beautiful estate of Trabucchi, in the town of Illasi, is known for its top-notch Amarone as well as a Soave-like white, all made according to biodynamic methods, as is their olive oil. Tenuta Sant' Antonio is a new estate run by four brothers, whose dedication has earned them Tre Bicchieri awards--the Oscars of Italian wine. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel to relax in the pool or courtyard garden. Dinner on your own in Verona. B

Day 4 - Amarone Classico
Today we return to the zone of Amarone Classico in the towns of Pedemonte and Fumane. First stop is Tommasi, a fourth-generation winery that makes bench wines in categories: Valpolicella Ripasso, Amarone, and the red dessert wine Recioto. Lunch is at a "0 kilometer" restaurant in Fumane, where the entire menu is based on ingredients grown within 10 kilometers. If time allows, we'll stop in a tasting room of either Allegrini or La Salette. Our afternoon tasting is at Santa Sofia, an older, family-run estate housed in a Palladian villa, which makes very elegant renditions of Amarone. Dinner in Verona. B, D

Day 5 - Arrivederci!
Shuttle to the Verona train station and assistance with your travel plans.B

For more tour photos, click here
For GoogleMap, click here