Valpolicella: Amarone Wine Tasting & Vineyard Walk with Winemaker

Vineyard, Cellar & Tasting in Valpolicella's Heart

You walk the vineyards with the winemaker, see how Amarone grapes dry in a centuries-old room, tour a 17th-century cellar, and taste three wines paired with local cheese and salami on a terrace overlooking Valpolicella. The winery is family-run and works directly with visitors (no intermediaries or tour operators), so what you're tasting is what they actually make.

Step-by-step itinerary

Valpolicella vineyard tour and tasting

• Walk in vineyards with family history
• Visit 17th century cellar
• See traditional grape drying room
• Learn wine process and refinement
• Taste Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone wines
• Enjoy local cheeses and salami
• Sample organic extra virgin olive oil
• Relax on terrace with vineyard views

The experience

You've just landed in Verona, or maybe you're staying nearby with an afternoon free. The Valpolicella wine region is close enough that you can be standing in a vineyard within the hour, and that's exactly where this starts, not at a tour office, but at the winery itself, in Marano di Valpolicella. The family who runs it will be waiting, and they're the ones pouring the wine, not a hired guide reading from a script. You walk straight into the rows of vines, and the winemaker tells you the actual history of the place: how long the family has been here, which parcels produce what, why the slope matters.

The real work happens next. You'll see the fruttaio. That's the traditional drying room where Amarone grapes hang for months, shriveling into concentrated sweetness through a process called appassimento. It's not dramatic, but it's the thing that makes Amarone different, and once you've stood in that room and touched a dried grape, you understand why the wine tastes the way it does. Then you move into the 17th-century cellar, stone walls and oak barrels, where the wine actually lives while it's becoming itself. The winemaker walks you through what's happening in each barrel: the age, the blend, how long it's been sitting. It's the kind of detail you only get when the person talking actually made it.

Tasting comes at the end, on the terrace overlooking the hills. You taste three wines: Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone, and the winemaker teaches you how to actually taste. What to look for in the color, how to smell it, what the flavors are telling you. It's not pretentious. It's practical. Alongside the wines, you get local Monte Veronese cheese, Soppressa salami from the region, and their own organic extra virgin olive oil. The view doesn't hurt either. You're not rushed through this part. The whole experience is built around the idea that you came to understand something, not to collect a checkbox.

What’s included

A walk through the Valpolicella vineyards with the winemaker, a visit to the 17th-century cellar and the traditional drying room where Amarone grapes are prepared, tasting of three wines (Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone) with instruction on how to evaluate them by sight, smell, and taste, local Monte Veronese cheese, Soppressa salami, the winery's organic extra virgin olive oil, and access to the terrace overlooking the Valpolicella hills.

Options for this experience

2 options

Valpolicella wine tastingGuide in English or Italian · 10:30Reach it by public transport: a direct bus, booked through our service, runs about 30 minutes from central Verona and from Verona Porta Nuova station. If you drive yourself, the meeting point is in Valpolicella at Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde, loc. Gazzo 4, 37020 Marano di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.

Wine tasting with transport to the wineryGuide in English or Italian · Available from 25 Oct 2027Two pickup points in Verona: A. Piazzale Cadorna in central Verona at 10:00 AM, and B. Verona Porta Nuova train station at 10:15 AM.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 2h 30m, runs every day at 10:30, from € 70 per person, with a live guide in English and Italian and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by TENUTA SANTA MARIA VALVERDE

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in or near Verona who want to understand how Amarone is actually made, not just taste it. The winemaker leads the whole experience, so you're learning directly from the person who made the wine, which is what makes a small family winery different from a larger tour operation.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Do I need to know about wine to join?

No. The winemaker teaches you how to taste: what to look for in color, smell, and flavor. It's designed for all levels.

Is food included?

Yes. Local Monte Veronese cheese, Soppressa salami, and the winery's organic extra virgin olive oil are included with the tasting.

Can I get there without a car?

Public transportation options are available nearby, according to the winery. It's worth confirming the exact stop and walking distance when you book.

Is it accessible for people with mobility issues?

The winery is wheelchair accessible. The vineyard walk and cellar tour may have uneven terrain. Ask when booking if you need specific accommodations.

Can I bring children?

Yes. Infants and small children can use a pram or stroller. Older children can join the vineyard walk, though the wine tasting is for adults.

What if I want to buy wine after?

The winery sells directly to visitors. You can purchase bottles to take home after the tasting.