Trentino Private Food & Wine Tour

Upon arrival at Verona (or Venice) airport, your elegant private driver will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals, and you will be swept away to the fairy tale Winelands of the Vallagarina in Trentino. Destination: Tenuta San Leonardo, one of the most prestigious and beautiful wine estates in the region. Owned by Marchese Guerrieri Gonzaga, the property has a mind-boggling amount of history. Wine has been cultivated in this area since 900 AD. The beautiful villa you see at the winery now dates back to the 1700s and was used as headquarters for the Italian army during World War I. You will fall in love with the location and will enjoy a private, exclusive tour of the property concluding naturally with a tasting of their fine wines including their flagship San Leonardo wine which is a Bordeaux blend, the excellent Villa Gresti (which very unusually includes Carmenère).

Before lunch, stretch your legs at the Castello di Avio, an evocative medieval castle dating back to the 13th century (and the keeps are even older) set overlooking Avio village. It’s a gorgeous spot, and you can enjoy a walk on the grounds and the interior, including the “Stanza d’Amore” (Love Room) with beautifully painted frescoes. Both the emperors Charles V and Maximilian of Habsburg have stayed at this castle!

Lunch then will be at the utterly sublime Castel Noarna. This captivating 11th-century castle set amid vines under the mountains is such a treat to visit. You will start with a private tour of the castle, see the frescoes and learn about the witches of Nogaredo before carrying on to a tasting lunch of their estate wines and local cuisine. Begin with their Nosiola white, floral wine that reminds you of the lush wildflowers of the region. Taste their Lagrein and Teroldego (native red varietals), and conclude with their top red, Romeo (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot).

In the late afternoon, head to your fabulous lakefront hotel. You are staying at Lido Palace, a mythical luxury hotel, and spa in Riva del Garda. Riva was a favorite lake resort for the Royal Habsburgs in the late 1800s, and many famous guests have stayed here from Russian aristocrats to the Vanderbilts. These days it is a very cool, renovated top-class resort offering a stellar spa, different onsite dining options, not to mention extensive gardens and views to die for. Have a lovely evening, and settle in.

Have a late breakfast, and enjoy the resort facilities and grounds this morning. You might like to do one of their revitalizing treatments like the white grape facial or regenerating foot massage. Head to Trento outskirts in the late morning. The first stop today is at the Ferrari winery, producing Trentodoc Metodo Classico sparkling wines. Ferrari and the Lunelli family have been awarded several times with the Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses award, the highest accolade in Italy), with “Winery of the Year” by Gambero Rosso and they won the “Producer of the Year” at “The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships” 2019.
You will have a truly magnificent experience. You will visit the winery, enjoy a Michelin starred lunch at the Locanda Margon (paired with the best Ferrari wines, of course, including Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2007) and visit the outstanding Villa Margon, where Emperor Charles V stayed during the Council of Trent.

After a chef’s tasting menu, enjoy a digestive walking tour of the delightful town of Trento. Explore the enormous Renaissance Duomo, the medieval Palazzo Pretorio, and admire the facades of the Palaces on the Via Belenzani. You can poke around Trento’s cute shops and cafes on your own after the private tour.

Head back to your resort in the early evening. We suggest you try the onsite Bistrot eatery, Tremani. Get a table on the candlelit terrace and taste dishes like an organic poached egg, polenta from Storo, Vezzena cheese fondue, and black truffle, and slightly smoked alpine char with wild herbs, estragon sauce, and bottarga.

This morning is free at leisure. Wander around Riva on your own, visit the old town and harbor area. If you want to see the best views of Lake Garda, hike the Strada del Ponale, originally built in the 19th century. Today it is pedestrianized, and you can enjoy the magnificent panoramic trail carved into rocks.

This early afternoon your driver will come to pick you up, and you will discover the art of Grappa, Rovereto, and its fantastic museums.

Start with the prestigious Marzadro distillery, grappa producers since 1949. On a private tour, you will learn all about the different steps of grappa production and visit the stills room, storage areas, aging rooms. After the entertaining tour, you will have a guided tasting experience, including an excellent grappa and Domori chocolate pairing.

Next is a short photo stop and visit at nearby Castel Beseno, the largest feudal fortress all over the Trentino region. Finally, in the early evening, your last stop is the delightful town of Rovereto, surrounded by the Alps in a very picturesque setting. You will explore this whimsical little town with your private guide. Admire quaint piazzas, see Mozart’s house, learn about the Futurism art movement, and visit the MART (the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is housed in a gorgeous building) and the Casa d’Arte Futurista Depero museum. You will also have a quick and interesting tour of the coffee museum, founded by Caffè Bontadi, the oldest coffee roasting company in Italy,

Dinner then will be a gourmet affair at Senso, under the dramatic dome of the MART museum. Renowned chef Alfio Ghezzi worked for many years with the mythical chefs Gualtiero Marchesi and Andrea Berton and decided to return to his native Trentino roots 2019 for this extraordinary culinary project. His Michelin starred restaurant offers locally sourced, sustainable cuisine, and you will enjoy his chef’s tasting menu with fabulous local wine selections. Your driver will take you back to the resort after a terrific afternoon and evening.

You have a beautiful day in store! After check out this morning, you have a picturesque hour drive to one of the most remarkable wineries of the Trento region and all of Italy: The organic and family-run Pojer e Sandri estate. They are innovative and trend-setting, both in the vineyards (use of resistant grapes like Solaris) and in the cellar. Their wines are simply stellar! Pojer e Sandri boasts an extremely interesting in-house production of grappas, spirits, and vinegar too that you will sample, of course, on a private tour!

At the end of a fun morning of wine tasting, you’ll be famished by now, and lunch is just down the road at the warm and cozy Vecchia Sorni, a Slow Food hub with a zero mile ethos. With a spectacular view over the Val d’Adige mountains, taste mouthwatering local dishes like potato cake with smoked cheese and speck, pork ribs with crispy polenta and sauerkraut, and apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream. This region is adjacent to South Tyrol/Alto Adige, and Austria heavily influences the cuisine).

After a delicious and filling meal, take in a digestive, vineyard walk on the hillside of Trento at the Elisabetta Foradori wine estate. Her work focuses on indigenous grapes and biodynamic wine practices. Your private host will give you a tour of the two cellars before enjoying a tasting of their best wines based on Teroldego, Nosiola, Manzoni Bianco, and Pinot Grigio grapes. You will also taste Granato, which won the coveted Three Glasses award by Gambero Rosso.

In the late afternoon, you’ll visit one of the most spectacular castles in a region full of amazing castles: the bewitching 13th century Castel Thun. You have a magnificent panorama over the valley and mountains here, don’t forget the camera today! With all the sumptuous cuisine this week, it’s lovely to get in some scenic walks, and you can enjoy a tour of the castle grounds and park. If you would like a sweet stopover, the small village of Vigo di Ton is also home to one of the best honey producers in the world: Andrea Paternoster at Mieli Thun.

Arrive at your next base, an Alpine resort, in the early evening, and free time to relax.

Today is an entirely free day at leisure to enjoy the resort and the Rendena Valley on your own. You have plenty of options! There is a breathtaking 5,000 square meter Lefay spa right onsite at your hotel, with unbelievable mountain views from the full-length windows. You could spend the whole day at the resort spa with many tempting options like a special couple’s spa in your private Alpine cottage overlooking the fairy tale forest peaks. Or, you could play a round of golf at one of Europe’s highest (5,413ft) and oldest courses (Henry Cotton designed it in 1921). And the shopping is excellent in Madonna di Campiglio hamlet.

There are fantastic hikes that you can walk from your resort in Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo. This part of the Brenta Dolomites is also called the Western Dolomites. The scenery is life-affirming and impressive, and there are hikes for all levels of difficulty. If you want a relaxing walk for photo ops, you can take the cable car right up to the peaks. And if this was not enough to keep you entertained today, you can also check out the Val di Genova’s awe-inspiring waterfalls, surrounded by the glaciers of Adamello and Presanella.

The dining options today are varied and fun. Taste local Trentino cuisine and specialties at rustic mountain huts reminiscent of Swiss cottages, like Rifugio Nambino right on the lake or go for a fancy fine dining choice like Chalet Fiat with its astonishing mountain views. Sample dishes like smoked Mortandela Luganega Trentina cured meats, Puzzone di Moena, Vezzena, and Trentingrana cheeses. Or enjoy a gourmet lunch at 6,890 ft with traditional dishes like Canerderli (bread dumplings) and roe deer with porcini mushrooms and polenta. Switch gears from the wine tasting and opt for local craft beers (you can also have a guided tour and tasting at the brewery if you like).

After the full day on your own, we will organize an exceptional dinner for you tonight at the romantic Michelin starred Stube Hermitage, known for its high-end Alpine cuisine. Dedicate the next few hours to tantalizing your taste buds with the chef’s taster menu. Enjoy pairings of Trentino Alto Adige wines from estates like Balter, Alois Lageder, Elena Walch, and Tramin, whose Gewürztraminer Epokale received 100 Parker Points.

There are castles, and then there are castles with drop-dead settings, and Castel Toblino is possibly the loveliest jewel in this charming region, set right on a lake and looking like a scene from a Grimms Brothers story. You will start your explorations here at the Cantina Toblino, a sleek wine estate making a wide range of excellent wines. We will include some of our personal favorites for you to taste such as their Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Kerner (crossing of Trollinger /Schiava and Riesling Renano) and for the reds- Teroldego, Las Lagrein l and concluding with their excellent Elimaró wine made with Rebo (Teroldego and Merlot crossing). You will also taste the precious Vino Santo Trentino, produced with the Nosiola grape, naturally dried on racks, subject to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), and then aged for a minimum of 50 months. We will send you away with a gift of their premium L’Ora grappa today, to take back home with you.

Lunch is next right at the 16th-century castle overlooking the lake. Chef Stefano Bertoni’s signature style is healthy, local cuisine reinterpreted with a modern flare. You can choose from the lake or land tasters, and fish lovers will love the Bigoli pasta with Lake Sardines, Pine Nuts, Raisins, and Candied Lemon, while meat fans will enjoy the Spiedò (Steak fillet with porcini).

After lunch, you will head to the last winery of the day: Pisoni, an organic, family-run winery. Marco and Stefano will show you their estate, and you will taste their wines with the owners themselves, including Vino Santo Trentino and Reboro. Reboro is a bold, velvety straw wine, made with the Rebo grape, and aged 36 months in barrique.

This evening you will arrive at the romantic countryside of Verona, at one of Italy’s most elegant villa wine relais. Free evening to dine onsite at their excellent Michelin starred restaurant or taxi out for a more casual option.

Shake things up today with something relaxed and fun- a private hands-on cooking class at the darling Gemme di Artemisia restaurant, overlooking the silver-blue waters of Lake Garda. Your hosts Lara and Andrea, enjoy teaching cooking as much as cooking, and they will transmit this passion and good humor to you over a very entertaining morning’s class of three courses, which can be adapted based on your food preferences. You can include lake fish and fresh seafood, homemade pasta, veggie, or desserts- from easy to advanced level depending on your confidence in the kitchen. Sip wine while you cook and chat, and then sit down to a romantic table directly overlooking the lake and relax over the meal you made. Even non-cooks will appreciate the views, wine, and setting.

After lunch, head back to the hotel. Freshen up and enjoy some free time for resting. In the early evening, transfer to Verona, where you will meet your private guide to take you on a sunset tour of the town. Begin with a visit to the ancient Roman arena, where the annual opera takes place. Carry on to other sites like Juliet’s balcony, popping into wine bars en route. You will taste your way around Verona tonight with easygoing snacks and tastings of Soave, Bardolino, Lugana, and Amarone wines. This is a great way to conclude your week in Northern Italy, enjoy!

At your preferred time, your driver will take you to your next port of call (Verona or Venice airports, or the train station). You will be going home with fond memories of your tour, great photos, and a few gifts. We hope you had a fantastic time and we hope to see you again!