Venice: Evening Wine Tasting & Cicchetti Food Tour Dorsoduro

Summary

Venetian evenings wandering dorsoduro tasting wine & cicchetti

You’ll wander Dorsoduro’s backstreets with a local guide, tasting six kinds of cicchetti paired with regional wines — including prosecco and dessert wine — in authentic Venetian bars. Expect laughter over mispronounced words, glimpses of secret frescoes if you’re lucky, and that feeling when you realize you’re finally seeing Venice beyond postcards.

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the meeting spot at Campo Santa Margherita because I got distracted by a group of old men arguing (or maybe just talking loudly?) over tiny glasses of something golden. Our guide, Giulia, waved me over with a grin — she didn’t seem bothered that I was five minutes late. “You’re here for the wine tour, right?” she asked, and I nodded, still catching my breath. The square smelled like coffee and rain on stone, even though it hadn’t rained in hours.

We ducked into the first bacaro — honestly, I’d never have found it alone — where Giulia explained cicchetti is basically Venetian tapas. She ordered in rapid-fire Italian; I tried to repeat one of the names (“baccalà mantecato”) and made her laugh. The cod spread was creamy and salty on toasted bread, and the prosecco tasted almost floral. There was this moment when everyone at the bar cheered at something on TV, but none of us understood what it was about. Didn’t matter.

Walking through Dorsoduro as dusk settled felt different from other parts of Venice — quieter, with laundry flapping above our heads and a dog barking somewhere down an alley. We stopped to look at Banksy’s graffiti (it’s smaller than you’d think), then slipped into another bar for natural wine and these fried artichoke things that I still think about sometimes. At one point Giulia pointed up at a ceiling covered in faded frescoes; she said if we were lucky they’d let us peek inside. We were — just for a minute.

The last glass was a dessert wine that tasted like honey and apricots. My feet hurt but I didn’t want to leave yet. The locals kept coming in for their usual drinks, nodding hello to Giulia like she belonged there (she does). It wasn’t fancy or anything — just warm light, good food, a little chaos in Italian. So yeah, if you’re looking for the real Venice… this felt pretty close.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Venice wine and cicchetti tasting tour

• Pass by and admire local sights
• Walk with guide off tourist path
• Try local cicchetti and wines
• See Banksy's graffiti artwork
• Visit locals' favorite wine bars
• Look at stunning ceiling frescoes

Top questions

How long is the Venice evening wine & cicchetti tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

Does this food tour include drinks?

Yes, it includes several regional wines: prosecco, natural wines, dry wines, plus a dessert wine.

Is pickup included for this Venice food tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your guide at Campo Santa Margherita.

Are vegetarian options available on this tour?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if advised at booking.

Can gluten-free or vegan travelers join this food tour?

No gluten-free or vegan options are available.

What areas does the tour cover?

The tour explores Dorsoduro district and Campo Santa Margherita.

Is this a private or group experience?

This is a small group walking tour led by a local guide.

Are children allowed on the Venice cicchetti tour?

Infants and small children can join if in a pram or stroller.

What should I do if I have dietary restrictions?

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.

What’s included

Your evening includes all tastings: six traditional cicchetti (Venetian tapas), sweet treats, one glass each of prosecco and dessert wine plus three regional dry wines (including natural wine), all guided by a licensed local expert as you walk through Dorsoduro’s authentic bars and alleys—no need to worry about ordering or finding your way around yourself.