A Sparkling Day in the Prosecco Hills from Venice

The best part of this day is that it goes beyond pouring Prosecco into glasses. You meet the people who make it, travel through the vineyard-covered hills, and sit down to a long lunch at the guide’s family osteria, where spiedo meat cooks over an open fire.

I like two things in particular: the small group, capped at eight, keeps the day personal, and the family lunch gives you a taste of local hospitality beyond the winery doors. You also visit two producers, so the tastings offer a chance to compare different approaches to Prosecco.

One point needs care: the train tickets are included, but you must pay close attention to the train and platform instructions. A last-minute platform change has caused confusion for some people, so confirm the meeting procedure before setting off.

• Two wineries, eight tastings: Learn about production and sample four Proseccos at each stop.
• A four-course family lunch: Expect traditional dishes at the guide’s family osteria, including its signature spiedo when available.
• A viewpoint in the hills: Pause for photos at a scenic spot, which may be a castle site or a local osteria.
• A small private group: No more than eight people join the day, with guides including Carlo, Giulia and Sebastian.
• Rail tickets are included: The day begins in Venice and includes return train tickets to Conegliano, but check the precise boarding instructions.

From Venice to the Prosecco Hills

Venice is a city of canals, stone lanes and close-up history. This day gives you a change of pace: vineyards, hilltop views and a glimpse of life in the Veneto beyond the lagoon. The Prosecco Hills are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the route makes the scenery part of the experience rather than a backdrop glimpsed through a bus window.

The tour starts at 9:00 am, with the meeting point given as Venezia Santa Lucia. Train tickets to Conegliano and back are included, and the trip takes about an hour each way. The tour then uses a private vehicle to reach the wineries and other stops.

The rail arrangement deserves your attention. Although tickets are included, the train platform can change shortly before departure. If you are unfamiliar with Italian train stations, arrive early, read the departure boards carefully, and check any instructions from the guide. Don’t assume that an included ticket means someone will escort you onto the right train.

The day is described as about seven hours, but the full outing also involves rail travel from Venice. Confirm the exact schedule and where the guide meets you in Conegliano before booking, especially if you have another commitment that evening.

First Pour in Valdobbiadene

The first winery is in the Valdobbiadene area, surrounded by the countryside that gives this region its character. You’ll hear about how Prosecco is made and taste four wines. The emphasis is not just on drinking: meeting producers and learning about their work can help you notice differences in style and production.

Each tasting is an opportunity to compare what’s in your glass. The tour does not specify the wines or tasting-room format in advance, and the wineries may vary. One outing has included Nani Rizzi, where the tasting took place in an attractive room, with a patio as another place to enjoy the setting. Treat that as a possible stop, not a guarantee.

The four pours at each winery add up to eight tastings over the day. That is a substantial amount of wine, especially alongside a full lunch. Pace yourself, take the opportunity to drink water, and remember that the goal is to understand the wines as well as enjoy them. Bottled water is included.

A Viewpoint, Not Just Another Tasting

Between the wineries, the guide takes you to a viewpoint in the Prosecco Hills for photos and a look across the region. The stop may be at an old castle site or a local osteria tucked among the hills. Since the exact location can vary, don’t book expecting one particular castle or photo spot.

This pause matters. It breaks up the tasting schedule and gives you time to take in the scale of the vineyards and the shape of the hills. It also helps explain why this is a full-day excursion rather than simply two winery visits with a meal in between.

The stop is scheduled for about an hour, but what you see depends on the day’s plan. If the view is a priority, ask the operator what location is planned when you confirm the tour.

Lunch at the Family Osteria

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing. You sit down for a four-course meal at the guide’s family-owned osteria in Pieve di Soligo, where dishes follow the family’s grandmother’s recipes. The signature spiedo, meat that cooks slowly over an open fire, gives the meal a distinctly regional feel.

The meal is described as generous and leisurely. Some outings have included wine with lunch, and the family’s homemade desserts provide the finish. Grappa may be offered, but it is not listed as a guaranteed part of the meal, so consider it an extra rather than an inclusion.

The family connection changes the tone of the day. Guides such as Carlo, Giulia and Sebastian have been praised for sharing stories about their home region and taking the group to places tied to their own lives. The meal feels less like a scheduled restaurant stop and more like an introduction to local food through people who care about it.

If the family osteria is closed, the group goes to another high-quality restaurant with a similar approach, owned by friends of the family. That keeps the meal in the plan, though you should not assume the precise menu or setting will be identical.

Vegetarian meals are available, but you need to advise the operator when booking. The tour also asks you to share any other dietary requirements in advance. With a set four-course meal and a traditional meat dish at its center, early notice is especially useful.

The Second Winery Near Conegliano

The final winery is near Conegliano, where local producers make DOCG Prosecco from older vine varieties. You’ll taste four more wines and hear about the producer’s approach. This second stop adds a useful comparison: the wineries are not simply duplicate tasting rooms, and the day gives you a chance to see how different producers express the region.

One possible visit is Mon Ban, described as a very small operation run by a single producer. That kind of stop can feel more personal than a large commercial tasting, though the exact winery may change. The tour presents the producers as people with a strong interest in the craft, and direct contact with them is a worthwhile part of the day.

By this point, you have had lunch and sampled wines at two wineries. The final tasting can be a relaxed way to end, but it may feel like a lot if you are not used to drinking wine over several hours. You can enjoy the scenery and conversation without feeling obliged to finish every pour.

After the final winery, the private vehicle returns you to Conegliano station for the train back to Venice. The activity ends at the original meeting point.

What the Price Includes

At $228.56 per person, this is not a budget train ride with a couple of tasting-room appointments. The price covers a private tour, private vehicle transport in the hills, return rail tickets from Venice, eight wine tastings, bottled water and a four-course lunch. Put together, that means you are paying for a full day with several moving parts, not just the wine.

The small group limit of eight helps make the cost easier to understand. You are not sharing a large coach with dozens of people, and the guide can keep the group together and answer questions along the way. The family meal and direct visits to producers also give the outing a personal dimension that a self-planned set of tastings may not provide.

Still, value depends on what you want. If your main aim is to try a glass of Prosecco cheaply, this is more tour than you need. If you want the countryside, local food, two winery visits and transportation arranged as one day out, the inclusions make the price more compelling.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Plan to get to the stated meeting point in Venice, and confirm exactly how you will receive and use the train tickets. The advertised group maximum is eight, but the experience is private, so check the booking details if you have a specific group-size question.

Who Will Enjoy This Day Most

This outing suits people who want to see a different part of the Veneto while staying in Venice. It is especially appealing if you enjoy wine, regional food and informal contact with local people. The guide’s personal connection to the area is a major part of the day, and the family osteria makes the lunch more than a convenient stop between tastings.

It also works well for a couple or small group looking for a full-day excursion without arranging separate trains, a driver and winery appointments. The tour handles the local transport once you reach Conegliano, and the small-group limit keeps the outing from feeling like a large bus excursion.

You may want to skip it if you have very little time in Venice, dislike long meals, or are not interested in wine. The day includes two winery visits and eight tastings, so Prosecco is central, not incidental. The scenery and lunch broaden the appeal, but they do not turn it into a general countryside tour.

The tour has a maximum of eight people, and most people can participate. It requires good weather; if poor weather cancels the outing, you are offered another date or a full refund. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.

Should You Book It?

I’d choose this day if you can spare the time and want a genuine contrast to Venice. Two wineries, a small-group guide, a family-run lunch and the Prosecco Hills’ scenery make a well-rounded day, with food and local connections carrying as much weight as the tastings.

Book it if you are comfortable with a full schedule and willing to manage the train instructions carefully. Before you pay, confirm the meeting and boarding details, ask which wineries are planned if a particular producer matters to you, and share dietary needs. For Prosecco fans, or anyone who wants a taste of the Veneto beyond Venice, it is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours. The day also includes train travel between Venice and Conegliano, which takes about an hour each way.

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is Venezia Santa Lucia in Venice, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Confirm the train and meeting instructions before departure.

Are train tickets included?

Yes. Return train tickets between Venice and Conegliano are included in the price.

How many people can join?

The tour has a maximum of eight travelers.

How many wine tastings are included?

You receive four wine tastings at each of two wineries, for eight tastings in total.

Can I request a vegetarian lunch?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available. Advise the operator when booking, and share any other dietary requirements at that time.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the activity is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.