Italy off the beaten path: Discovering Prosecco
Smart itinerary in the Prosecco Wine District: A hidden gem in Italy and place to visit near Venice, Verona and Garda Lake. Plus tips to maximize your experience.
“Prosecco, the wine?” That’s the first question I hear when speaking about my trip to the Prosecco wine region in Italy.
Despite being close to more popular places to see in Italy like Venice, Verona and Garda Lake, the Prosecco wine region still has the hidden gem feeling, distant from the tourist crowds.
It took me a while before planning a visit to this area, after many recommendations from people who’d been there -and I’m happy I did!
What I loved the most: The landscape, the food, the tranquility and the value for money.
Here’s a review of my experience.
My smart itinerary for a weekend in the Prosecco Wine Region, Italy
The Prosecco region is a wine district in Italy located between the towns of Conegliano Veneto and Valdobbiadene, in the North-Eastern part of country.
It’s the only area in the world where the world famous white sparkling wine, Prosecco DOCG, is produced.
Since 2019 this Italian wine area has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites thanks to its unique combination of hilly landscape, vineyards and villages dotting the area.
Compared to other wine regions that I’ve visited -like the Champagne region in France, the Chianti in Tuscany, Italy or Napa Valley in California- the Prosecco wine region feels different.
How to get there
If you are looking for things to do in Venice or around the city, the Prosecco region could be a great option. In fact, this area can be reached by car in approximately one hour. If you’re in Verona, it takes around 2 hours to get there.
The Prosecco wine region can be best explored by car, and there are many places where it’s possible to stop and see on the way.
What to do in Prosecco
Immerse yourself in the territory! What makes the Prosecco wine region in Italy so unique are its hilly landscape, endless vineyards and charming towns that offer postcard views.
Another advantage of this area is its size, which we could easily cover by car in a weekend (spending a few more days makes sense if you’re hiking or biking).
Some activities I’d highly recommend:
Hiking or biking along the Via del Prosecco. Many hotels can arrange bike rental. Here are some possible hiking and biking routes.
Driving by car and visiting one of the many towns along the road. We visited Cison di Valmarino, a beautiful village nominated one of the Most beautiful villages in Italy . The fairy tale castle of Castelbrando, located on a hill above this town, can be reached by walking or with a panoramic cable car (make sure to check the opening hours).
Wine tasting in one of the many wineries (beware of the opening hours during weekdays and in the weekend!). We did a wine tasting in Cartizze PDC as it was conveniently located at walking distance from our hotel.
The Prosecco DOCG Superiore di Cartizze is a specific high quality selection of Prosecco that is produced in a small area within the larger Prosecco region.
The “basic” wine tasting package cost us 15€ per person. Food pairings and guided tours are optional.Relaxing by the pool surrounded by vineyards. There are few accommodations with a pool to choose from, I enjoyed the views and breakfast at the Agriturismo Due Carpini.
Having a glass of wine watching the sunset while sitting in the vineyards at the Osteria Senz’Oste (literally, a restaurant without its owner).
The concept of this place is indeed unique: We could pick our favorite bottle of wine and snacks at the self-service machines and sit at one of the free tables scattered around the vineyards.
Where to eat
It’s really difficult to go wrong or to recommend any place in particular with so many great food options in this area. Here’s what we chose during our stay.
Option 1: As local as it gets
Ristorante da Brun is more of a Trattoria-style place with very generous portions, familiar atmosphere and affordable prices. Large families would typically go here for a Sunday lunch and good company.
This restaurant is beautifully located on a hill in the middle of vineyards.
We ordered mixed Antipasti, Tagliatelle al ragu’ di Cervo and Ravioli, two desserts, two coffees and wine and paid around 25€ per person.
Not a place for a romantic dinner, but definitely recommended if you’d like to try a local experience and leave with a full stomach!
Option 2: More high-end
Osteria Dolcevista is a more high-end Osteria, yet reasonably priced, with a beautiful terrace and specializing in meat and wine. We tried a Carpaccio with Burrata and a 1kg Fiorentina (an enormous T-Bone steak, grilled on the charcoal and best eaten rare) accompanied by two glasses of red wine and a dessert for around 50€ per person.
Ask a local:
What’s the difference between Osteria, Trattoria, Locanda and Ristorante in Italy?
Originally, an Osteria, Trattoria or Locanda would offer mainly local dishes at more affordable prices compared to a Ristorante.
More recently, some Osteria, Trattoria and Locanda kept their name but became more high end, offering for example local dishes paired with a broader selection of wines, better service and a more exclusive atmosphere.
When eating out in this area it’s generally best to book a table (or have it booked by your hotel), especially during peak season as well as on Saturdays and Sundays when locals from the surrounding towns flock to this area for lunch and dinner.
Got more time? What to see around Prosecco
If you have more time, there are plenty of opportunities and places worth visiting on the way to Prosecco, depending where you are travelling from.
We chose to skip the most popular towns around Garda Lake and Verona, and instead made a stop in Soave, a beautiful small medieval town surrounded by walls and with a castle. The area around Soave is renowned for its wine production and has a few nice restaurants.
Another place off the beaten path worth visiting in the area is Arquà Petrarca, nominated one of the most beautiful Borghi (historical towns) in Italy. It took us just a couple of hours to visit this village, and we stopped for a good lunch at the Ristorante San Marco, located in a picturesque location under a patio.
Finally, the Dolomites and the famous Peaks of Lavaredo as well as the Braies Lake are just a 2-3 hours drive away and can be combined with a visit to the Prosecco region.
About me
As a passionate traveler and tourism professional I’ve experienced the world: From hiking the Andes to flying Business Class, from camping in Serengeti to staying in luxury resorts in Maldives.
In my career I’ve driven brand collaborations, scaled up communities and websites and helped tourism companies reach international travelers.
Beating Jetlag is my attempt to improve today's traveler journey -by bridging the gap between real traveler experiences, trends and innovations in tourism & hospitality.
I love Italy and have been several times. I live in an old European cottage style home surrounded by a Tuscany look and feel and believe the builders back in 1937 were Italian. I have fresh basil, fresh garlic, fresh cherry tomatoes that I plan to sauté in Olive Oil and European style butter and drip over fresh sourdough bread later today. I particularly loved the Mt. Etna region for its lava inspired nitrogen rich soil making the tastiest fruits and veggies, especially olive oil, olives, honey and wine. Chestnuts growing wild by the side of the road are amazing. Makes me want to go back for another visit!