Sprawling along the southeastern shores of Lake Garda, Bardolino is an Italian wine-growing region renowned for its reds combining Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. It’s named after the town of Bardolino and the region’s wine was awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1968.
Things to do in Wine Region Bardolino
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or want to embrace La Dolce Vita, Bardolino will make a lasting impression.
Visit the Museo dell’Olio. If you’re a fan of olive oil, then the Museo dell’Olio in Cisano is a must-see. Its exhibits include mule-drawn presses and antique olive oil bottles, as well as explanations of how olives have been harvested throughout history. After your visit, be sure to browse the olive oils, homewares and olive oil-based cosmetics for sale in the museum store.
Tour Bardolino’s vineyards and wine cellars. No visit to Bardolino is complete without sampling some of the local reds at one of the many cellar doors that dot the region. Enjoy a sommelier-led tasting in the architecturally striking Cantina Valetti, which offers sweeping views across Lake Garda, and venture into its underground cellars. At Tenuta La Cà, you can learn how Italian grapes are traditionally grown and harvested while discovering the inner workings of a modern winery.
Relax on the pebbly shores of Punta Cornicello. Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Bardolino is this pebbly beach, which is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing in the summer months. You can grab drinks and snacks from the on-site bar or pay your respects to the local sailors at the Monumento “Al Marinaio”. Backing the beach is a park with a small Ferris wheel, which connects to the Lungolago di Bardolino promenade.
Getting around Wine Region Bardolino
The town of Bardolino is a 35-minute drive from the centre of Verona and 30 minutes from Verona Villafranca Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect towns and villages throughout the region, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the Bardolino DOC.