Tag: Wine Tour

Season 5, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 103 | Italy: Verona Wine Country & Vineyard Tours

The Boozy Blondes

In this Boozy Blondes Abroad episode, the girls take you beyond Verona and into the Lake Garda region for a full-day wine tour that blends education, scenery, and an immersive taste of northern Italy’s wine culture. What begins as a simple day of wine tasting quickly turns into a memorable experience filled with new friendships, rich history, and an appreciation for the region’s unique approach to winemaking.

The DOE is very special today. The girls are drinking a bottle of “victory” Prosecco sent to them by Pagus Wine Tours. The girls’ photo with Marco (more on Marco later) was chosen to be the home page hero image on the Pagus Wine Tours website!

The episode sets the stage by exploring why the Lake Garda region is such an ideal environment for vineyards. Thanks to its natural microclimate, shaped by the lake’s ability to regulate temperature, the wines produced in this region are known for being light, fresh, and highly drinkable. The blondes explain how this balance creates wines that are approachable and perfect for long, leisurely meals, reinforcing why the area has been producing wine since Roman times.

They also break down the often-confusing Italian wine classifications, explaining the difference between DOC and DOCG. While DOC wines follow strict regional guidelines, DOCG wines meet even higher standards and undergo additional quality controls. In the Lake Garda region, many wines fall under DOC, emphasizing a more relaxed, easy-drinking style that aligns with the area’s overall atmosphere.

The girls booked a full-day tour with Pagus Wine Tours, which they both agree is a standout choice for travelers looking for a more intimate and personalized experience. With a small group of just eight people, the tour avoided the feel of a large, impersonal excursion and instead created an environment where guests could connect with each other, their guide, and the winemakers themselves. The day included transportation from Verona, visits to two wineries, and a long, scenic lunch along Lake Garda, making it a seamless and well-paced way to explore the region.

The first stop, Benazzoli Winery, introduced the group to classic Bardolino wines. This family-run winery showcased the lighter, fruit-forward style the region is known for, with wines made from grapes such as Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. The girls highlight the approachable nature of these wines, particularly the Chiaretto di Bardolino, a crisp rosé that embodies the easygoing spirit of Lake Garda. The modern tasting experience, combined with the winery’s long-standing history, created a welcoming introduction to the region. The girls loved the bright and airy, modern feel of the tasting room and enjoyed the opportunity to roam through the vineyards.

After Benazzoli, the group drove to Lake Garda for lunch and to walk through the town. The tour included lunch which was a set budget to spend at the restaurant. The budget allowed plenty of room for apps, entrees, desserts, and plenty of drinks! The walk through the town was a perfect way to keep up energy after indulging…although some still couldn’t stay awake on the ride to the next stop (pictured below).

The second stop, La Marega Winery, offered a contrasting but equally memorable experience. Marco, mentioned earlier, is the winemaker and the fourth generation of this family-owned operation. With a focus on traditional methods and minimal intervention, this winery emphasized authenticity and a deep connection to the land. This was the opposite to Benazzoli with a more intimate setting, where they tasted wines in a cave beneath the winemaker’s home and shared food and conversation in a way that felt more like a family gathering than a formal tasting. The opportunity to hear directly from the winemaker added depth to the experience, making it a highlight of the day.

The Boozy Blondes emphasize that the combination of these two wineries created a well-rounded perspective on Italian wine. One showcased modern, approachable styles, while the other highlighted tradition and craftsmanship, together demonstrating that Italian wine can be both accessible and deeply meaningful.

By the end of the tour, the experience is framed as more than just a day of drinking wine. It becomes a reflection of the Lake Garda lifestyle, where time slows down, meals are meant to be savored, and wine is simply a natural part of the moment. The girls encourage listeners to consider a full-day wine tour as an essential addition to any Verona itinerary, not only for the wine itself but for the connections, scenery, and perspective it provides.

This is the second time the Boozy Blondes booked a wine tour during their Italian travels and can’t recommend it enough. If you are traveling near Rome, listen to Episode 087 | Italy: Wine Tour & Tasting Near Rome (check out the blog here) to learn more about a half day option the girls recommend.

Have you experienced a memorable wine tour that you think the girls would enjoy! Leave a comment below!

Season 4, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 087 | Italy: Wine Tour and Tasting Near Rome

The Boozy Blondes

Listen here!

Ciao, lushes! The Boozy Blondes are taking you back to Rome in this episode to give you all the details on a half-day wine tour they experienced just outside of the hustle and bustle of Rome. This episode takes you through beautiful countryside.

The DOE is a bottle of Pecorino, a light-skinned white Italian wine grape variety that grows in Italy’s eastern wine-growing regions. It’s similar to a Sauvignon Blanc.

During the girls’ stay in Rome, they knew they wanted to take an excursion, and they found this Half Day Rome Wine Tour with Convivio Rome just outside the city. This tour is managed by the sweetest couple, Sally and Guido, who, spoiler alert, turned out to be the most amazing hosts the girls could have asked for!

This tour included a drive through the beautiful countryside on the way to visit the local winery, where the girls enjoyed a tour and sampled (3) different wines with a light snack. It also included a visit to Sally and Guido’s home complete with other quality local wines and an amazing spread of food they had prepared, while overlooking a spectacular view. There was even a medieval village down the mountain from their home!

That’s the overview – here are the steps to take and expect if you want to enjoy this beautiful day:

  1. Take the train to Fara Sabina. Sally and Guido will send you all the details so you know which station to leave from and where you need to go. Remember: when you’re taking the train in Italy, and you buy your tickets at the station, you need to get your ticket validated BEFORE you board.
    — Pro tip when traveling to the Fara Sabina station:
    Buy provisions before you go or bring them with you. There is one shop outside the station in Fara Sabina, and you can get an espresso or pastry, but you can bring whatever you want to eat or drink on the train. Yes, that includes your boozy libations.
  2. Once you get to Fara Sabina, Sally and Guido will pick you up in a passenger van. From here they drive you through the beautiful countryside to the winery.
  3. At the winery, you experience a behind-the-scenes tour of production and bottling, and you get to see the barrel room! After the tour, you gather in the main room. Just off this room is a giant deck which overlooks the vineyards and the Roman countryside – so incredibly beautiful.
  4. In the main room you sample some wines and enjoy some snacks! At this point, you can purchase any bottles you like.
  5. From here, pile back into the van and head to Sally and Guido’s home! The hospitality they showed the Boozy Blondes was so genuine and heartfelt, like the girls were old friends rather than tourists. More wine is served along with a delicious selection of light bites.
  6. After taking in the views, enjoying each other’s company, and wine, of course, Guido drives you back to the train station.

Sally and Guido have been hosting this tour for over a decade, and they have it nailed down to a science. They also host cooking classes, cooking holidays and olive oil tours. They are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the wines, food, culture, landscape and more, we can’t begin to give this experience justice by trying to describe it to you.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram, and follow links at the top of this blog to see all they offer! You can see the Boozy Blondes’ Instagram reel from the day here. The girls give the Half Day Rome Wine Tour their stamp of approval. If you embark on this beautiful day, be sure to tell Sally and Guido the Boozy Blondes sent you! Salute!