Only an hour drive north of Venice lies the enchanting land of vineyards where the prized Italian sparkling wine Prosecco is made. Beautiful landscapes, charming historic towns, excellent food and wine make it one of the prettiest and top places to visit in Italy.
The Prosecco wine road meanders from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene, through steep hills with small towns and family-run wineries, many of which have been producing the crispy bubbly for centuries. A few years ago, this area was awarded a prestigious Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) title, which guarantees high quality of the wine.
The Prosecco road’s 20 miles can be done in one day but to fully appreciate the beauty of the area it is better to discover it at a slower pace. Starting from the lovely town of Conegliano enjoy the view of the surrounding hills from the 10th century castle. Heading towards Refrontolo make sure to stop by the picturesque 17th century water mill Molinetto della Croda that was carefully restored a while ago and houses a small museum now.
Next stop – the small village of Col San Martino with its spectacular medieval Credazzo Towers. Don’t miss the little local gem – 12th century church of San Vigilio, sitting on a hill above the village. Behind each turn on the Prosecco road lie spectacular vistas, so prepare to linger to take the scenery in.
Between the villages of Santo Stefano and Saccol stretches a small hilly Gran Cru area of Cartizze. On this small patch of land, only 106 hectares, crème de la crème of Spumante wine is produced. Make sure to stop in one of the local bars or wineries to have a flute of the sweet bubbly that bursts with complex notes of citrus, rose and almond and admire the breathtaking green hills around.
There are many excellent trattorie and restaurants along the Prosecco road that serve tasty staples of the Veneto cuisine such as radicchio, wild game, roast suckling pig and delicious meatballs. Check out Salis with its excellent wine list and modern take on traditional dishes, Bar Alpino which offers simple local fare and 50 different Prosseco by the glass.
Photos by: Perin Giuliano, Mionetto Prosecco, Szeder László.
