Traditional wines

Valpolicella Wine Tour

Valpolicella wine tour at Venturini winery

Venturini Massimino is a family winery in San Pietro in Cariano, active since 1963 in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone. The estate covers 15 hectares of hillside vineyards at 250 metres altitude, planted with Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara on traditional dry-stone terraces. A Valpolicella wine tour here means sitting in the family wine shop, tasting wines made a few hundred metres away from where the grapes grow, and hearing the story directly from the people who farm the land. The winery is now in its fourth generation, and the approach to visitors is the same as the approach to winemaking: informal, personal, no shortcuts.

Three tasting experiences to choose from

The winery offers three distinct formats for a Valpolicella wine tour, each with a different focus and depth.

The first is “Conosci la Valpolicella” (Discover Valpolicella): a two-hour tasting of 5 classic wines paired with a board of local cured meats and cheeses, priced at €25 per person with no minimum group size. It is the right option if you want a solid introduction to Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso and Amarone in a single session.

The second is “Amarone Storico” (Historic Amarone): a two-hour vertical tasting of 6 Amarone wines from different historic vintages, also paired with local charcuterie, at €85 per person with a minimum of 4 guests. This one is designed for anyone who already knows Amarone and wants to understand how it changes with age.

Both tastings include the option to add a catered dish for an extra €10 per person.

The third is the “Amarone Experience”: a five-hour Valpolicella wine tour that starts with hotel pickup in the Verona province aboard a vintage Fiat 500. The route includes two panoramic stops, one overlooking Lake Garda and one facing Verona, with an aperitivo along the way. The tour ends back at the winery with the full Amarone Storico tasting and a light lunch.

How to book your Valpolicella wine tour

The Venturini wine shop is at Via Semonte 20, San Pietro in Cariano (VR), a short drive from Verona. You can book any of the three experiences by filling in the contact form on the website at viniventurini.com, by emailing info@viniventurini.com, or by calling +39 045 7701331. If you are looking for a gift, all tasting packages can be booked on someone else’s behalf. The team speaks Italian and English.

Amarone Wine Tasting

Taste 6 historic Amarone vintages at Venturini winery in Valpolicella, paired with local cured meats and cheeses. The two-hour Amarone wine tasting costs €85 per person (minimum 4 guests), with an optional upgrade to a five-hour tour in a vintage Fiat 500 with panoramic stops over Lake Garda and Verona.

Ripasso Wine Tasting

The “Conosci la Valpolicella” tasting at Venturini includes Ripasso alongside Valpolicella Classico and Amarone, so you can compare how refermentation on Amarone pomace changes the same grapes. The two-hour Ripasso wine tasting is €25 per person with no minimum group size, paired with local salumi and cheeses. Book at info@viniventurini.com or call +39 045 7701331.

Valpolicella DOC red wine

Valpolicella Classico

Alcohol content: 13,00% Vol

Bottle size: 750 ml

Description

Valpolicella Classico shines with a bright ruby-red colour and good clarity. On the nose, it expresses a straightforward and honest character, with fragrant notes of sour cherry and redcurrant, lifted by a refreshing balsamic hint. The palate is direct and lively, with enjoyable fruity echoes and a decidedly savoury finish that invites another sip.

With its fresh and easy-going nature, Valpolicella Classico is like the summer breeze that tousles the leaves of our vines each evening, offering relief after a hot and busy day.

The grapes are harvested by hand in the first half of October.

Winemaking

After roller crushing and destemming, fermentation takes place at 26 °C with daily pump-overs, followed by malolactic fermentation to enhance roundness and smoothness.

Perfect pairings

A versatile wine that pairs well with a meat-based pasta dish, but when served slightly chilled, it also complements fish stews and other lighter seafood preparations.

Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC red wine

Valpolicella Campomasua

Alcohol content: 14,00% Vol

Bottle size: 750 ml

Description

Campomasua shines with a bright ruby-red colour. On the nose, it captivates with round, juicy aromas of freshly picked ripe cherries, complemented by hints of violet, pink pepper and a solid mineral undertone. The palate is well-balanced and highly enjoyable, exhibiting excellent linearity and drinkability, leading to a clean, elegant finish.

Sunlight warms our marogne, the old dry-stone walls that support our vineyards, gradually infusing the grapes with light and warmth. The grapes are harvested by hand in the first week of October.

Winemaking

After roller crushing and destemming, the must undergoes 10 days of maceration on the skins with daily pump-overs. Fermentation takes place at 20 °C, followed by racking and transfer to oak barrels, where the wine matures for 12 months. It is then refined in bottle for a further six months.

Perfect pairings

This is a wine that calls for boldly flavoured dishes. It beautifully enhances the taste of a grilled Florentine steak, a selection of aged cheeses, or more elaborate preparations such as oven-roasted game.

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC red wine

Semonte Alto

Alcohol content: 14,50% Vol

Formato: 750 ml – 1500 ml

Description

Semonte Alto presents a deep, luminous ruby-red colour. On the nose, it opens with initially spicy and toasted notes, gradually revealing aromas of dark fruit such as blackberry and blueberry, alongside hints of liquorice and dried violet. The palate is taut, fresh and savoury, with satisfying tannins that cleanse the mouth and invite another sip.

Matured in medium-toast oak, Semonte Alto is intense and spiced, reminiscent of the grand barrels that rest neatly, side by side, in our cellar. The grapes are harvested by hand in the first half of October.

Winemaking

Produced using the traditional ripasso technique, the vintage wine, vinified in October, undergoes a second fermentation in February-March on the intact Amarone grape skins for about 10 days, with daily pump-overs. After racking, the wine is transferred to oak barrels for 12 months of maturation. Finally, it is refined in bottle for six months after bottling.

Perfect pairings

A wine with a bold character that pairs beautifully with succulent meat dishes, such as rabbit stew or roast pork. It is also intriguing with soft cheeses with bloomy rinds, such as Brie.

Traditional wines

Valpolicella Wine Tour