Wine Travel: Discover Conegliano Valdobbiadene, The home of Prosecco Superiore

Discover Conegliano Valdobbiadene, in the heart of the Veneto, in Northeast Italy, where Prosecco Superiore DOCG is made and thrives.

Prosecco often gets lumped into one category — fresh, fruity, and inexpensive sparkling wine. But if you’re willing to look a little deeper, there’s so much more to Prosecco than it gets credit for.

Their is an amazing array of sparkling wines of Italy that are worth seeking out. We also have an entire article on Prosecco versus Champagne if interested.

I want you to see and experience the land where this sparkling wine stems from. I had the incredible opportunity to join a group of other wine writers on a press trip to the region last December and have a lot to say. But first let’s check out the land.

Jump to:

• The Vineyards of Conegliano Valdobbiadene
• The Wine and Food of Conegliano Valdobbiadene
• Where to Eat
• The Culture
• The Prosecco Vending Machine
• Planning Your Trip to Conegliano Valdobbiadene

The Vineyards of Conegliano Valdobbiadene

The towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are at the heart of this region, and the home of the highest quality DOCG Prosecco Superiore wines. And that is where I spent my time while touring in 2018.

It’s these steep vineyards where the grapes are grown for the highest quality DOCG Prosecco wines.

 These vineyards get STEEP! Like woah!

And the views are spectacular.

Filled with vines that are never dull to look at.

And picturesque scenes like this everywhere.

You can experience this on what is know as La Strada del Prosecco, the wine road that is a must see. Drive the windy and sometimes steep roads that straddle Conegliano and Valdobbiadene visiting dozens of wineries along the way (you may want to hire a driver though. I’ll recommend a good one down below).

But there’s more to see than just these spectacular vineyards.

The Wine and Food of Conegliano Valdobbiadene

Identifying a wine with the DOCG logo on it (vs. DOC) is the first step. This is the highest quality in the region, and only made within these two towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.

Meet the winemakers and sip on their wines, many of which you won’t find back home in the US. You’ll find some special gems here.

Think Italy is only about pasta?

While you will find some pasta, this region is filled with local seafood, and fresh seasonal ingredients.

I was there in December, with pumpkin still in the height of its season. This was a dish made with freshly pureed pumpkin. Insane.

Risotto is also a popular dish of the region, and I had plenty of that on my first trip to the region a few years ago.

Did you know this region is also famous for its Tiramsu?! Heck yeah!

Where to Eat

Each day we were there, someone new would explain to me that the Veneto region is famous for Tiramisu, and brag about how great it was, but I didn’t even get to eat my first local Tiramisu until the last day I was there at lunch at Ristorante Salis in Valdobbiadene. I have to say it’s worth the hype. Holy deliciousness.

Speaking of Ristorante Salis, just outside the doors of the restaurant you’ll be greeted with this charming scene.

I can’t even make this stuff up.

And speaking of images. Food, wine, and vineyards are not all you’ll experience in this region.

The Culture

I can’t say enough about how charming, and gorgeous, and authentic this region feels. It feels untouched from modern society, in a good way.

I have a thing for doors.

And also windows.

And cool structures, like this Abbey located in Follina within the province of Treviso, just north of Valdobbiadene.

The Prosecco Vending Machine

Did you know that you could also hike to the top of a vineyard in the Cartizze subregion (where the top tier Prosecco vineyards are located) and be greeted with a Prosecco vending machine?

I kid you not. Located at the L’Osteria senz’Oste — which translates to restaurant without a host — you can pick up some snacks and take a short but steep hike up to the top of the vineyard and buy a bottle of Prosecco from the vending machine. Don’t worry they offer plastic cups to drink your bubbly in 😉

Whether you buy a bottle or not, the views are spectacular from up there.

Planning Your Trip to Conegliano Valdobbiadene

This region is only about 40 minutes from Venice and would be worth a simple day trip, or make a weekend out of it. There is plenty to do, whether you rent a car and drive yourself or hire a driver. If you go the driver route I can’t recommend Oriana Balliana enough. She was the driver hired by our hosts, the Consorzio Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, to get us around and she was fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable of the region and its wines as well as gracious and friendly. I highly recommend her if you are looking for a reliable driver.

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Thank you to the Consorzio Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore and to Gregory White PR for the invitation and opportunity to travel through the region and learn about Prosecco Superiore. As always, all opinions are my own, as well as all photos and video production.

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