7 Towns in Veneto For Wine Connoisseurs to Retire In

One of the core delights Veneto is known for, alongside cheese, pasta, and other fine Italian cuisine, is its wine. No matter how you prefer your wine, there’s almost always a guarantee you’ll find an avenue in this region that perfectly matches your taste.

And if you’re looking for some suggestions, allow me to guide you in this blog, where I’ll share my favourite picks for the best wine-producing towns in the Veneto region.

Key Highlights:

• Most wine-producing towns in Veneto specialize in either red or white wine while offering other activities like wine-related festivals and hiking.
• Negrar, Barbarano Mossano, Lonigo, and Vo’ are known for their fruity red wine while Soave, Valdobbiadene, and Custoza attract tourists for their white wine.
• For wine tasting, you should schedule them in advance, preferably in the autumn season when it’s time to harvest the grapes.

Negrar

Negrar in Veneto, Italy (Image Source)

Regarded as the home of Amarone, Negrar is known for its high-alcohol red wines. If you’re a fan of the fruity chocolate-hinted flavour of Amarone, this is the place to be. I recommend visiting this town directly from Verona, which should be a 20-minute drive. 

Once you’re here, you should definitely visit the Valpolicella vineyards and the Villa Mosconi Bertani, which showcase Negrar’s incredible history and winery collection. 

The overall cost of living is fairly affordable, especially compared to Verona. My stay at Hotel Villa Moron was a modest one, but the restaurants, including Trattoria Alla Porchetta, are top-notch.

The wine is, of course, the star here, but to fully enjoy it, keep in mind that locals prefer to taste without any distractions, like strong perfumes. So, be mindful of your fragrance to enhance your tasting experience and that of those around you.

Soave

Of all the wines I’ve tried in Veneto, none feel as natural, light, and almost healthy as the white wine in Soave. Like Negrar, this town is closest to Verona, and a 25-minute drive away from that city.

Soave shares a similar vibe with Negrar, but the fact that English is widely spoken here made it much easier to get around and connect with locals.

One thing you have to mind is the timings — most shops and malls will close at 4 PM, so you should conclude your basic activities early in the day. Besides that, a key location to visit is the Scaligero Castle, Soave’s pride, which offers stunning views that capture the town’s natural beauty.

If you’re a wine lover, make sure to try Soave Classico – it offers a refreshing mineral touch that makes it stand out.

Valdobbiadene

Valdobbiadene in Veneto, Italy (Image Source)

Aside from its delicious wine, Valdobbiadene’s location in the Prosecco Hills makes it ideal for biking and hiking. This place has so much to do, but if you’re visiting, I suggest doing so during the winter season because the summers can get quite hot.

The wine itself is nothing to scoff at; although not as distinct or punchy as some of the other wineries on this list, Valdobbiadene’s sparkling wine has a tint of freshness and acidity thanks to the overall climate.

Much like the town itself, the wine is easy to enjoy and something that grows on you. If you plan on visiting and staying here long-term, I highly recommend Hotel Diana. I stayed there during my visit and loved the fantastic facilities they offer.

Barbarano Mossano

Located on the Berici Hills near Vicenza, Barbarano Mossano is a small yet lovely town with an exquisite collection of fruity red wine produced by Tai Rosso. The Mossano Bridge is a must-visit location here; the views showcase Barbarano Mossano at its best, infusing the blue Bacchiglione River with the Berici Hills.

If you fall in love with Tai Rosso and plan to stay long-term, you might want to consider Soave as your home base. Barbarano Mossano, though beautiful, is a small town with limited accommodation options and a simple restaurant scene. Soave offers more variety and convenience while still being close to the charming surroundings.

Lonigo

Lonigo in Veneto, Italy (Image Source)

As far as the wine towns in Verona go, Lonigo is on the larger end and nearly double the size of areas like Barbarano Mossano and Vo. While you can reach here via roads from Vicenza, I advise getting used to the Lonigo railway station, letting you connect to cities like Venice, Verona, and Padua. 

Lonigo truly felt like it had a piece of every popular wine-specializing town in Veneto — the festivities of Valdobbiadene, the accessibility of Negrar, and the Tai Rosso wine of Barbarano Mossano. The hotels here, especially the La Barchessa di Villa Pisani, are worth the price, having facilities like pools and spas while remaining cozy and affordable. 

Custoza

If you’re someone who wants to enjoy their wine while exploring the sites alongside Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda, Custoza is undoubtedly for you. This town, located within Sommacampagna, is a 30-minute drive from Verona and is known for the famous Bianco di Custoza wine. The wine itself certainly holds up, with the aromatic almond-like flavour that makes it ideal alongside light dishes.

Other than that, Custoza is modest in its infrastructure and facilities, with major activities being lakeside walks along Lake Garda and visiting historical places like the Ossuary and battlefields. For wine tasting, though, you should have your bookings in advance, particularly in September and October, during Bianco di Custoza’s harvest season.

Vo’

For wine enthusiasts seeking peace and quiet, Vo’ is the place to be. It’s the smallest wine-producing town in Veneto in terms of area and population, located in the Euganean Hills, and the only town on this list you should visit through Padua. The most convenient way to reach Vo’ is via the A13 motorway, so you don’t need to take a bus or train.

For the wine itself, this area specializes in both vibrant red and fresh white wines, but the main attraction, in my experience, is definitely the Grappa, Vo’s distilled spirit. As for hotels and residences, there aren’t that many, but you can try your luck in Brendola, which is about a 10-minute drive from the town.

Summary

That wraps up my guide on the best towns for wine admirers who plan to live full-time in Veneto. Whether you’re a fan of fruity, fresh, aromatic, or any other kind of vintage, this region has it all, and at least one of them is bound to favour your taste buds.

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