The grand tour of Amarone: 2 wineries with delicious lunch

Amarone is the star here, but the best part is meeting the people who make it. This five-hour outing takes you from Verona into the Valpolicella hills for two winery visits, old Amarone vintages, limited-edition wines, and lunch inside a 15th-century cellar. I like the personal scale: producers and family members lead the winery visits, rather than a guide giving you a generic wine lecture.

I also like the balance between tasting and food. You get a proper local lunch, olive oil at one stop, chocolate with Amarone, and a final grappa toast. The main consideration is the price, $254.89 per person. That is a serious half-day cost, though it includes transport, two winery visits, extensive tastings, and lunch. If you mainly want one quick tasting, this is more than you need.

Key points to know before booking

• Amarone takes center stage: Taste several vintages, including Riserva wines, alongside Ripasso, Recioto, DOCG, and limited-edition IGT bottles.
• Meet the producers: The visits are built around winery owners, family members, and hosts who explain their own methods and wines.
• Lunch happens in a historic cellar: Expect appetizers, bruschettas, a main course, sweets, and Valpolicella pairings.
• The drive is short from Verona: Piazza Bra is the meeting point, and the Valpolicella hills are about 20 minutes away.
• The day adds more than wine: You may stop for views, walk through vineyards, taste olive oil, and finish with grappa and chocolate.
• Past guides include Sara, Sarah, and Laura: The driver languages are English, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Why Amarone makes this tour different

Valpolicella is best known for a family of wines, not just one bottle. Amarone is the heavyweight: dry, full-bodied, and made from grapes that are dried before fermentation. That drying process concentrates flavor and gives the wine its powerful character.

You will also taste Ripasso, which gains extra body from contact with Amarone grape skins, and Recioto, the sweeter traditional wine of the area. The range matters because it lets you compare how the same region and local grapes can produce very different results.

This tour keeps Amarone at the center, with different vintages and Riserva bottles included. That is valuable if you already enjoy wine and want to understand age, production choices, and the differences between standard and special releases. You will also taste selected IGT wines and DOCG bottles, some of them limited editions.

I would not book this only for a quick introduction to Italian wine. The tasting program sounds generous, and the day is designed for people who want to talk about production, grapes, and cellar work. If your companions are casual drinkers, the amount of wine may feel like a lot.

Leaving Verona from Piazza Bra

The meeting point is Piazza Bra, 28, under the large clock and near the International pharmacy. This is convenient if you are staying in central Verona, and the tour ends at the same place.

The drive to Valpolicella takes about 20 minutes. That short transfer is a real advantage. You do not lose half the day on a long coach ride, and the region becomes an easy addition to a Verona stay.

Transport is provided in a private vehicle with a certified local driver. Drivers speak English, German, Italian, and Spanish. A private guide is not included, so the driver handles the route while the winery hosts provide the detailed explanations at each property.

Past departures have included guides named Sara, Sarah, and Laura. Laura took one small party through St. Ambrogio, a hill town with an overlook across the Valpolicella district, before visiting an ecological winery. The exact stops can vary, but that example shows how the day can include more than cellar interiors.

The first hill stop and the view over Valpolicella

Depending on the season, you may make a panoramic stop in the hills. The listed route includes a 20-minute photo stop in Valpolicella, and St. Ambrogio has been used as an overlook.

This is a short pause, not a long sightseeing visit. That is the right approach for a wine day. You get a sense of the setting, take in the vineyards and hills, and then return to the main purpose of the outing.

I like having this visual introduction before the tastings. Amarone makes more sense when you see the slopes and villages where the grapes are grown. Just keep your expectations clear: this is not a full countryside tour with several scenic walks. The view stop is a bonus between the winery visits.

First winery: production, local grapes, and an olive oil extra

The first winery visit lasts about an hour and a half. You can expect a guided look at the winemaking process, from fermentation through bottling, followed by wine and food tastings.

The tour places emphasis on indigenous Valpolicella grape varieties. That is useful because the region’s identity comes from its local grapes and traditional methods, not simply from aging wine in a barrel and putting a famous name on the label.

One of the producers also offers an extra virgin olive oil tasting. This is a welcome change of pace, especially when you are already sampling several wines. It also connects the visit to another important local food tradition without turning the day into a general food tour.

The first stop may be a smaller winery with ecological wines. One past visit included three red wines, cheeses, and cured meats. That combination gives you a more informal introduction before the larger meal later in the day.

The exact producer and bottle selection can change, so do not expect the same three wines every time. The important feature is the direct contact. You meet the producer or family members, ask questions, and hear how that particular winery works.

The 15th-century cellar lunch

The middle of the day is built around a substantial lunch lasting about two and a half hours at the second winery. The meal takes place inside a 15th-century cellar, which gives the stop a strong sense of place without needing a separate museum visit.

The included meal features appetizers, bruschettas, a main course, sweets, and Valpolicella wines. Chocolate paired with Amarone is also included. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are available on request, so mention dietary needs when booking.

This is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. Winery tastings can leave you hungry, especially when several full-bodied reds are involved. A proper meal slows the pace and gives you time to enjoy the wines rather than rushing from one glass to the next.

One past departure paired the lunch with one white wine and several reds. That is a useful reminder that the meal is not limited to Amarone alone. You may taste a broader selection before returning to the main focus of the day.

The lunch is not a quick sandwich stop. It takes up a large part of the outing, which is good if you like long meals and conversation. If you prefer a tightly scheduled sightseeing day, the extended lunch may feel slow.

Second winery: vineyards, old vintages, and family stories

The second winery visit includes a walk through the vineyards. You learn how different local grape varieties contribute to Valpolicella wines, then return for a larger tasting session.

This is where the tour’s personal format pays off. The hosts explain the secrets and techniques of their own winemaking, and you can ask about fermentation, bottling, aging, and the Amarone process. Since the producers and family members lead the visits, the explanations should feel tied to real work rather than a memorized script.

The tasting focuses on different Amarone vintages, including Riserva wines. Older vintages give you a chance to compare how the wine changes over time. You may also taste limited-edition IGT wines and DOCG selections, which adds variety for anyone who already knows the basic Valpolicella lineup.

The final grappa toast is a cheerful way to finish. It also makes clear that this is a social food-and-wine experience, not a formal academic tasting. Enjoy the toast, but pace yourself earlier in the day. Five hours of wine, lunch, and travel can catch up with you.

What the tasting format means for your day

The schedule gives you a broad sample of the region:

• Amarone, including different vintages and Riserva
• Ripasso
• Recioto
• Other Valpolicella wines
• Limited-edition IGT wines
• DOCG selections
• Grappa
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Local foods, cheeses, cured meats, sweets, and chocolate

That is a lot for five hours. I would treat the outing as a generous food-and-wine meal rather than a technical tasting course. You will learn more if you ask questions as you go: Why was this vintage held back? Which grapes are used? How long does the wine age? What makes a Riserva different at this winery?

The guides can help connect the bottles to the place. Sara’s explanations received particular praise on a past departure, and Laura was able to answer questions about both wine production and local sights in clear, accessible terms. The guide names may vary, but the useful feature is the direct conversation.

Shipping bottles home

The wineries offer a door-to-door wine shipping service worldwide. This matters because Amarone bottles are heavy, and buying several at the end of a tasting can create a luggage problem.

Ask about the shipping cost, delivery timing, customs rules, and any restrictions for your home country before you commit to a purchase. Those details are not included in the tour price. Shipping is a convenience, not a reason to assume every bottle can arrive everywhere without paperwork or extra charges.

I would also make a note of the bottles you like during the tastings. After several wines and a full meal, it is easy to forget which vintage or producer you preferred.

Is $254.89 a fair price?

At $254.89 per person, this is not a budget wine outing. The value comes from what is bundled into the half-day: private transport, a certified local driver, two selected wineries, producer-led visits, extensive tastings, lunch, olive oil, chocolate, and grappa.

You are also paying for access to a part of Valpolicella that is difficult to experience efficiently without your own car. The 20-minute transfer from Verona keeps the day compact, while the winery hosts provide the specialist content.

The price makes more sense for couples and small groups who want a full experience with food included. It is harder to justify if you only want to sample one or two wines, or if you are comfortable arranging your own transport and tastings.

A private guide is not included, so do not compare the cost directly with a fully guided private tour. Here, the winemakers and winery staff supply much of the interpretation, while the local driver connects the stops.

Who will enjoy this Amarone day most?

I would recommend it to wine lovers who want Amarone to be the main subject, not a side tasting added to a sightseeing trip. It also suits anyone who enjoys long lunches, historic cellars, local food, and conversations with producers.

It works well for a Verona visit because the journey is short and the activity returns to Piazza Bra. The accessible vehicle also makes the tour suitable for wheelchair users, based on the stated activity details.

You should think twice if your group dislikes red wine, prefers a fast schedule, or wants a private historian-style guide throughout the day. The tour is centered on tasting, eating, and listening to winery hosts. That focus is its strength, but it will not suit every style of holiday.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a serious Amarone tasting with real food and direct contact with the people behind the bottles. The combination of old vintages, Riserva wines, a cellar lunch, vineyard walking, olive oil, chocolate, and a grappa toast gives you more than a standard tasting-room visit.

I would especially choose it if you are staying in Verona without a car and want an efficient way into Valpolicella. Just plan for a full, wine-heavy half-day and request vegetarian or gluten-free food in advance. For a casual one-glass introduction, choose something shorter. For a food-and-wine day with plenty of conversation, this is a strong match.

FAQ

How long does the Amarone tour last?

The activity lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when booking.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Piazza Bra Square, 28, in Verona, under the big clock near the International pharmacy. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How far is Valpolicella from Verona?

The drive from Verona to the Valpolicella wine region takes about 20 minutes.

How many wineries will I visit?

You will visit two selected wineries in Valpolicella.

Which wines are included in the tastings?

The tastings focus on Amarone, including different vintages and Riserva wines. You may also taste Ripasso, Recioto, other Valpolicella wines, limited-edition IGT wines, DOCG selections, and grappa.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served inside a 15th-century wine cellar and includes appetizers, bruschettas, a main course, sweets, and Valpolicella wine pairings. Chocolate with Amarone is also included.

Are vegetarian and gluten-free meals available?

Yes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available on request.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.