I am on a Village Italy tour this April-May and have booked 3 extra nights in Venice and 2 nights in Milan. I don't know much about Italian wines but would love to hear recommendations from those who are in the know. I do like shiraz, pinot noir and pinot grigio, so I have a varied taste. I have been doing some reading on Italian wines but I would like some feedback from those with experience. Thanks.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello June. If you like Pinot Grigio, you will find good ones at Venice. Because Pinot Grigio grapes are grown in north eastern Italy. In my experience, the most delicious white wine was made at a very small winery in Liguria (at the Mediteranean Sea coast). Those wines might be available in Milan. Will you be at a Cinque Terre village ?. A restaurant there gave free samples of a wonderful white wine that was made at a local winery there.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
If you like shiraz, pinot noir and pinot grigio, you pretty much like all wine. It's not so much about which varietals to sample, but what to enjoy where you will be. For example, in Northern Italy, be sure to try valpolicella. The Veneto is home to pinot grigio, but in Venice you can find wine bars to sample all kinds of wines.
And don't forget grappa! There's an amazing range to try in Italy.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA, USA
13 posts
Last year when we were on the Best of Europe 21 day tour, the tour stopped and visited the hill town of Orvieto. Our tour guide, Ben, bought some white wine for us to share on the bus as a surprise, it was from the Berganoria Winery, 2006, Tenuta Le Velette. He had purchased this local wine while we were in Orvieto! Looks like we may be on the same tour, meeting in Padua on April 27th. We are staying at the Albergo al Fagiano in Padua on April 24, 25, & 26th. Hopefully we will see you in April. Safe travels!!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Barolo and Barbaresco are two of the world's great red wines, both come from the Piedmont's Nebbiolo grape.
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
My husband and I were on the Village Italy tour last April. You are in for a great time! Lisa Anderson was our guide and was great! The wine lovers had opportunities to try different Italian wines and we all found some that we liked. (I like the pinot grigio) Nina was our assistant guide & guided us around Lucca where she lives. We did stop at a few vineyards. We also went into Venice early & were not jet lagged when the tour started. Have Fun!!