Amarone & Soave Wine Tour with Sommelier – Visit Verona

Amarone and Soave make an appealing pair: one is a powerful red from Valpolicella, the other a crisp white from Soave. This private day trip from Venice lets you explore both wine regions, meet family producers and take a guided walk through Verona, all with sommelier-guide Riccardo handling the drive and the day’s flow.

I like two things in particular: the chance to taste at small, family-run wineries, and the fact that Verona is part of the plan rather than an extra excursion to organize. A light lunch and snacks at the wineries also make the tasting stops feel more like a visit than a quick pour-and-go.

The trade-off is the distance. You’ll spend a substantial part of the eight-hour day in a vehicle, and a delay or busy event in Verona can squeeze the time for sightseeing. If your priority is a long, unhurried city visit, this schedule may feel brisk.

At a glance

• Two wine regions in one day: Visit a Soave winery and a Valpolicella winery, with tastings led by the producers.
• Amarone is the red-wine focus: Expect to explore Valpolicella wines, including Amarone, alongside Soave whites.
• Riccardo guides the whole outing: He is a sommelier and English-speaking local guide, and can adjust the day to your preferences.
• Verona adds a city stop: Take a guided walk to see the main attractions, though time there can be limited.
• Private transport is included: Your group rides in an air-conditioned vehicle from Venice and returns to the meeting point.
• Plan around the long drive: The tour lasts about eight hours, with a meaningful stretch of that time spent on the road.

From Venice to the vineyards

The tour starts in Venice and ends back at the same meeting point. You travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle, which means no train connections, rental-car navigation or need to plan how to get between wineries. For a day that combines several locations, that convenience is a real part of the value.

The outing is private, so only your group participates. That gives Riccardo room to adjust the pace and respond to your interests. If you care most about wine, you can make that clear; if Verona is a priority, say so before the schedule gets tight. One practical strength of a private tour is the ability to have that conversation rather than follow a fixed group’s pace.

The drive is also a chance to see more of the Veneto than Venice alone. The wine areas lie outside the city, and the route makes this a full-day excursion rather than a quick tasting nearby. The trade-off is plain: you’ll be in the vehicle for a significant portion of the day. One account describes spending more than three hours in the car, so bring that into your decision if long drives are tiring for you.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to meet in Venice, and the activity returns there at the end. Confirm your meeting details when booking, and leave a little breathing room around the day rather than scheduling another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Soave: a family winery and white wine

The first winery is in Soave, a wine area known here for its white wines. You’ll have a guided tasting and a chance to hear directly from the people making the wine. The format is more personal than a large commercial tasting room: the stops are described as small, family-run wineries, where the hosts can explain their work and answer questions.

The tastings can be generous. Some accounts describe trying several Soave wines, including one tasting of seven whites, but the exact lineup and number of pours can vary. Don’t treat a particular count as guaranteed. What you can expect is a guided tasting with time to learn about the wines, plus local nibbles such as cheese, salami and bread.

That food is useful, not just decorative. You’ll taste over the course of a long day, and the light lunch and winery snacks give you something to eat alongside the pours. The included lunch is described as local food such as salami, cheese and pizza. It is a light meal, not a full restaurant lunch, so plan accordingly if you prefer a larger midday meal.

You also have time to buy wine directly from the producers. That can be a pleasant advantage if you find a bottle you like and want to know who made it. Ask about shipping if you are considering several bottles; one group arranged to have wine sent home, but shipping terms and availability are not specified as part of the tour.

Verona: a concise guided walk

Verona breaks up the winery visits with a guided walk through the city’s main attractions. The scheduled stop is about an hour, so think of it as an introduction, not a full city tour. Riccardo shares local history and helps you get your bearings, giving you context for the places you see on foot.

That short visit can be just right if you want a taste of Verona without arranging a separate day trip. The city is widely appreciated for its beauty, and the walk gives you a chance to see some of its central sights between drives and tastings. If you want time to linger, shop or sit down for a drink, an hour may not be enough.

Keep the schedule flexible in your expectations. A street race once disrupted the walk, and a winery delay on another occasion cut into the available city time. Those are not predictable features of every tour, but they show how a full itinerary can be affected by events beyond the guide’s control. When time is tight, the guide may keep a brisk pace to stay on schedule for the next stop.

If Verona is the main reason you’re considering the tour, ask about the expected walking time and how the day’s stops are arranged before booking. If wine is your main interest, the city visit is a welcome extra, even if it is brief.

Valpolicella and Amarone

The second winery is in Valpolicella, where the focus is on red wines, including Amarone. The stop includes a guided tasting and a look at the winery, with the producer explaining how the wines are made. You’ll get a different style of visit from Soave: the day moves from a white-wine region to a red-wine area, so you can compare two distinct parts of Veneto’s wine culture.

Amarone is the headline for many wine lovers, and the chance to taste it where it is produced is a strong reason to choose this outing. Some tastings have included several Amarone wines, with one account describing eight. Again, the selection and number of pours are not fixed, but the experience is built around a generous tasting rather than a single sample.

The wineries are chosen for their small, family-run character. That means the encounter is personal, and the setting may include hillside views and a close look at the property. Hosts have been described as welcoming and the pours as generous, with snacks served alongside the wine. You can also purchase bottles directly from the producers.

Riccardo’s wine background matters here. He can help make sense of the styles and explain the region as you travel between stops. If you already know what you like, tell him. If you’re new to Amarone or Soave, this is a good setting to ask basic questions without feeling rushed through a large tasting room.

What the $280 price covers

At $280 per person, this is a premium day out, especially if you are traveling alone or as a pair. The value comes from combining private transport, a sommelier-guide, two winery visits, guided tastings, a light lunch and a Verona walk in one booking. Organizing those pieces separately would take time, and you would still need to arrange transport between the city and the wine regions.

The price makes more sense for a group that wants a private experience and is keen on wine. With a private vehicle, your party has the guide’s attention, and the schedule can be adapted to your preferences. Group discounts are available, though the exact discount depends on the booking.

The cost is less compelling if you mainly want a quick tasting or a long visit to Verona. You are paying for a full day and the transport beyond Venice, not just for the wine. Tastings are included, but bottles you buy are extra, as are gratuities, which are optional.

Who will enjoy this day most

I’d put this tour high on the list for wine lovers staying in Venice who want to get beyond the lagoon and see a different part of the region. It suits people who are curious about how Soave and Valpolicella wines are made, enjoy meeting small producers, and like having a guide who can talk about both wine and local history.

It is also a good fit if you want the ease of a private day without taking on the logistics yourself. Riccardo has been praised for clear English, a warm manner and flexibility, including adapting the day when someone was tired. That kind of personal attention can make a long drive feel more relaxed.

It is not suitable for children, and it may not suit anyone who dislikes extended time in a car or wants a leisurely, in-depth Verona visit. The tour runs Monday through Saturday, with listed hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check the exact timing and meeting point for your date. Hotel pickup is not included.

If you are visiting Venice for the day from elsewhere, check whether a €5 Venice access fee applies on your date. The fee is only required on certain days and exemptions may apply; current details are available at cda.ve.it.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a wine-focused day outside Venice, value a private guide and vehicle, and are happy to trade some time on the road for visits to two family wineries. The strongest reasons are the chance to taste Soave and Amarone at their source, Riccardo’s wine and local knowledge, and the easy pairing of the winery visits with a short Verona walk.

Skip it if your main goal is to spend several relaxed hours in Verona, or if a long drive would outweigh the appeal of the tastings. For everyone else, it offers a thoughtful way to see more of the Veneto in one day, with a direct route into the region’s wine culture.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about eight hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts in Venice and ends back at the meeting point in Venice.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Which wine regions are included?

The tour visits wineries in Soave and Valpolicella.

Is Amarone included in the tasting?

The Valpolicella winery visit focuses on red wines, including Amarone.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A light lunch with local food such as salami, cheese and pizza is included. Winery snacks are also provided.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included for the trip from Venice and back.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. The tour is not suitable for children.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.