A tour of the Prosecco hills to taste this wine at its source is a must for oenophiles, and wine tours departing from Venice generally include a stop for lunch to sample some authentic fare from the Veneto region. Some tours combine a wine tasting with visits to the area’s towns, as well as the historic Palladian Villas that dot this countryside. Prosecco DOC is produced in vineyards covering the countryside straddling the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions; the more prestigious Prosecco Superiore DOCG includes Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG from the hills between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, and Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG from the area surrounding Asolo.
The Prosecco Hills are located in the Veneto region at the foot of the Dolomites, just north of Venice. The best way to visit is with a wine tour that includes transportation to avoid having to navigate the rural roads by car.
The countryside in the Prosecco Hills is most scenic in spring and fall, when the vineyards are in full bloom. Tour in late summer if you would like to see the “vendemmia” (traditional grape harvest).
The Veneto region is home to the UNESCO-listed Palladian villas, elegant 16th-century residences in the hills between Vicenza and Treviso designed by Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Among the most famous are Villa Barbaro, Villa La Rotonda, and Villa Emo.