Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.villadellatorre.it
;
Via della Torre 25, Fumane; guided tour of the villa/with wine tasting/with lunch
€10/30/60; )
The jewel in the Allegrini crown, this historic villa dates to the 16th century
and was built by intellectual and humanist Giulio della Torre. Star-chitects such as Giulio
Romana (of Palazzo Te fame), Michele Sanmicheli and Bartolomeo Ridolfo all contrib-
uted to its construction, and now Allegrini wine tastings are held in the peristyle or in
front of Ridolfo's gaping-mouthed, monstrous fireplaces.
Pieve di San Giorgio
(San Giorgio, Valpolicella; 7am-6pm)
In the tiny hilltop village of San Giorgio a few
kilometres northwest of San Pietro in Cariano, you'll find this fresco-filled, cloistered 8th-
century Romanesque church. Not old enough for you? In the little garden to its left you
can also see a few fragments of an ancient Roman temple.
CHURCH
DON'T MISS
TOP TIPPLES
»
Allegrini
( 045 683 20 11;
www.allegerini.it
; Via Giare 9/11, Fumane; tours €12-60; by
appt; ) Valpolicella aristocracy, the Allegrini family have been producing grand crus from Corvin-
ia and Rondinella grapes since the 16th century.
»
Fratelli Vogadori
( 328 941 72 28;
www.amaronevalpolicella.org
;
Via Vigolo 16, Negrar;
by appt) Producing just 10,000 bottles, the eponymous Vogadori brothers use organic methods and un-
usual native varieties such as Oseleta and Negrara.
»
Massimago
( 045 888 01 43;
www.massimago.com
;
Via Giare 21, Mezzane di Sotto;
9am-3.30pm Mon-Fri) Breaking the traditional mould, Camilla Chauvet concentrates on a limited
range of lighter, more modern Valpolicellas at her winery-cum-
relais
, including a rosé and an unusu-
al sparkling variety.
»
Tezza
( 045 55 02 67;
www.tezzawines.it
; Stradella Maioli, Valpantena; by appt) In the
sheltered Valpantena valley, the Tezza brothers use a mixture of traditional and modern methods to
produce their intense, tannic, dry wines.
»
Valentina Cubi
( 045 770 18 06;
www.valentinacubi.it
; Località Casterna 60, Fumane; by
appt) This teacher-winemaker is blazing a trail with one of the few certified organic wineries in the re-
gion. The San Cero is one of few 'natural' Valpolicellas, which includes no sulphates at all.
Eating
L'Antica Osteria Le Piere
OSTERIA
€
