We made prior arrangements for a private tour for the day with Alessandro, the owner of Verona Local Dreamer, and the day was really quite perfect.

Castel San Pietro: Views Over Verona

First off, he took us to Castel San Pietro above Verona for the views over the city.

San Giorgio di Valpolicella and a Glass of Lugana

We then drove through the valley to a very small village, San Giorgio di Valpolicella, for views over the wine valley. We stopped and enjoyed a nice glass of Lugana white wine and took in the breathtaking scenery.

Torri del Benaco on Lake Garda’s Eastern Shore

Next up was Torri del Benaco on the eastern shore of the lake near the north end. Alessandro toured us around the small town and provided lovely context and color about the many small towns that dot the lake, and the lake itself.

Peschiera: A Lakeside Lunch

Then to the southern shore at Peschiera on the lake. After a quick tour, we settled in for a bit at a stop on the inlet for some pizza and wine.

Corte Borghetti Winery: Learning Amarone

Last up was a stop at Corte Borghetti Winery, a five-generation, privately owned wine estate, with a tour and tasting hosted by the current generation, Barbara. The tour included the beautiful property, complete with her home, the winery, an event space, and apartments for rent. We learned all about Amarone wine, tasting her sparkling wine, all three levels of Valpolicella red, and Amarone, alongside local salumi and cheese.

The unique process of winemaking, all from the same grape, included the Valpolicella: a light, fresh, fruity red — an everyday drinking wine. Then comes the Ripasso della Valpolicella, which involves repassing the Valpolicella wine over the leftover skins from the Amarone production. It’s full-bodied and round on the palate, richer than Valpolicella but not as heavy as Amarone. Lastly, the Amarone, the king of the reds, made with dried and fermented grapes. It’s rich, bold, and dry on the palate. Both of us fell in love with the Ripasso and ordered bottles of it at dinner whenever we could.

The day included amazing vistas but also brought us knowledge about a wine grape and process we knew nothing of before.

Quick Tips for Touring Lake Garda and Valpolicella

• Book a private tour if you can — Alessandro of Verona Local Dreamer packed in city views, lake towns, and a winery visit into a single, well-paced day.
• Start at Castel San Pietro for the best overview of Verona before heading out to the valley.
• Don’t rush a short stop like San Giorgio di Valpolicella — it’s a small stop, but the views over the wine valley with a glass of Lugana in hand were so worth lingering over.
• Visit different shores of Lake Garda if you have the time — Torri del Benaco and Peschiera offer very different sides of the lake with different vibes.
• Save room for Corte Borghetti or another winery visit— the tasting walks you through Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone side by side, which makes the differences between them click in a way tasting them separately never would.
• Try the Ripasso della Valpolicella even if Amarone is the famous name — it turned out to be our favorite of the three.

Next up: a Sunday stroll through Verona.