Authentic experiences immersed in villages, vineyards and the UNESCO heritage hills in the company of the most famous bubbles in Italy
Ordered rows like gardens, rolling and steep hills where heroic viticulture is practiced, tastings in the cellar and stays immersed in greenery: to discover the magic of the Valdobbiadene Hills, declared a World Heritage Site in 2020, a fleeting visit is not enough, but time is needed. Time to listen to the silence, to get in tune with nature, to taste a wine with those who produce it or to get lost on secondary roads where every curve offers a postcard landscape.
In recent years the offer of accommodation has increased and there are many welcoming and well-kept facilities, often family-run, where hospitality merges with a passion for wine and the land. Some also offer zero-mile breakfasts with homemade desserts, guided tastings and experiential packages that include cellar tours, dinners and bike rental.
To truly experience the area, the ideal is to stay in one of the many B&Bs immersed in the vineyards, where waking up smells of must and silence. Among the places that deserve a stop is the B&B Casa Oltraval, an oasis of peace and tranquility located in the heart of the Rive di Guia, between dizzying slopes, spectacular vineyards kept as gardens and the charming village of Guia, where time seems to have stopped. A B&B that is a truly immersive and authentic experience, where every detail tells of the deep bond that exists between the land, man and nature.
This charming residence, with a very intimate and familiar character, was created from an old stone house dating back to 1800, renovated in 2016. Gabriella Beatrice Vettoretti lives here, a winemaker for generations and owner of Gabe Tenute & Selezioni, an emerging company in the area, who has left a wing of the house available to travelers.
The B&B, spread over three floors connected by a spiral staircase, is the ideal starting point to discover the most authentic soul of the UNESCO heritage hills. The rooms, all equipped with every comfort, are tastefully furnished with natural materials, while the furnishings inspired by the style of William Morris evoke the wines of Tenute Gabe. Both the rooms and the secret garden, a terrace that overlooks the valley, enjoy a breathtaking view of the rows of vines and the surrounding hills. Every morning, breakfast based on local products greets guests, especially if they are gourmets, with genuine flavors. Here, every detail is designed to make the guest feel part of an agricultural and family history that has been handed down for generations.
A magical place, surrounded by greenery, ideal for experiencing moments of total relaxation and tranquility, ideal for unplugging: the entrance to walk among the rows, a place to buy local products, a local restaurant, the secret garden for an aperitif overlooking the valley, a bottle of Prosecco or some other wine that Gabriella follows the resale of to toast or admire the sunset with a glass in hand. Among the projects: that of transforming this place into a widespread hotel.
Gabe Tenute & Selezioni: the winery that unites tradition and future
Gabriella has chosen to found Gabe Tenute & Selezioni as a personal project: a small but ambitious winery, which interprets Glera with a delicate hand and an open mind. The estate is located in Crevada di San Pietro di Feletto in the province of Treviso in a flat position and is recognizable by the nets that protect the vines.
The labels – with evocative names such as Terra Merita, Fior di Sale, Estate Indiana, Clorofilla (see article) – speak a contemporary language, while remaining faithful to local roots. The top of the range is Alabastro, an elegant and profound Cartizze DOCG. The winery was taken over by a historic local company, completely renovated.
Here, high-quality sparkling wines with exotic and captivating names are born, all belonging to the Cornegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG denomination, produced according to the dictates of the specifications and projected towards the future. Among the most representative labels signed Gabe from the Conegliano and Feletto area we find Estate Indiana and Fior di Sale. Alabastro, the top of the range, is an expression of the DOCG Superiore di Cartizze, while Clorofilla and Terra Merita are obtained from the Guia vineyards. In addition to its own production, Gabe also sells wines from other producers, true gems of Italian winemaking to alternate with the bubbles.
The winery offers guided tours, thematic tastings of three, five and seven wines to pair with local cheeses and cured meats and experiential packages in collaboration with the B&B, creating a bridge between hospitality and agricultural storytelling. All in a simple, authentic context, far from the excesses of mass wine tourism.
Travelling without worries: the ValdoBus
For those who want to explore without stress and without a car, the ValdoBus has been operational since June of this year: a tourist shuttle active on weekends, which connects the main wineries, villages, panoramic points and places of interest (info on www.valdobus.it). An intelligent and sustainable way to move between glasses and hills, without giving up the pleasure of an extra toast.
A slow journey and a memory to take home
The Prosecco hills are not just vineyards, tastings and Prosecco, but also a journey of the senses, an invitation to slow down, to experience the territory in depth. Between a path, a glass and an authentic encounter, you rediscover the taste of discovery. They are a memory to take home, like Gabe’s bottles of wine, so as to relive the suggestions of a magical stay.
Article by www.foodandwinemagazine.it
