Duca Di Dolle Wine & Relais

Twenty hectares of Corvina and Garganega vines rise from calcareous and volcanic soils 200 meters above sea level, where continental air meets the moderating breath of Lake Garda. Duca Di Dolle Wine & Relais centres its offering on appassimento, the traditional drying process that transforms Corvina into Amarone della Valpolicella — rich, full-bodied, laced with dried fruit and spice. The estate also produces Soave Superiore from Garganega, a crisp, mineral-driven white edged with floral and citrus notes. Traditional vinification methods anchor the cellar work, and guests are invited into the process through exclusive wine-blending workshops that few properties in the region offer. Tastings unfold in a private cellar designed for intimacy, where Amarone is paired with wedges of Asiago and other local cheeses that echo the wine's savoury depth. Guided vineyard tours highlight sustainable practices across the estate's slopes, while Soave wine and food pairing sessions explore the interplay of Garganega's minerality with regional ingredients. The estate's focus on both red and white styles gives visitors a fuller portrait of Valpolicella's range, from the power of appassimento reds to the elegance of Soave. Accommodation takes the form of charming rustic rooms with panoramic views over the vineyards and the rolling hills beyond. Design nods to the region's agricultural heritage without sacrificing comfort, and the outlook — rows of vines stretching toward distant ridges — frames each morning with a reminder of why you came. The sensory thread runs through the stay: aromas of ripe grapes and wild herbs, the hush of the countryside, the sight of clusters hanging heavy in autumn light. The kitchen leans into Veronese tradition, offering risotto all'amarone, where the wine's concentrated fruit becomes the dish's soul, and bigoli with duck sauce, a pairing that mirrors the boldness of the estate's reds. Asiago cheese platters serve as both tasting companion and closing course. Beyond the property, the historic centre of Verona lies within easy reach, its Roman amphitheatre and medieval piazzas offering a counterpoint to the quiet of the vineyard. The Prosecco hills rise to the east, and Lake Garda's shore provides another dimension to the region's wine and landscape mosaic.