Holiday rental in Valpolicella, among the Amarone wineries

Valpolicella stretches north-west of Verona, between the river Adige and the Lessini mountains. Pescantina sits right at the mouth of the valley, along the river: from here San Pietro in Cariano, Negrar, Fumane, Marano and Sant'Ambrogio are 10 to 20 minutes away by car. It's an ideal base for a few days of wine tastings, historic villas and small villages, with Verona and Lake Garda always close at hand.

The wines to know

• Amarone della Valpolicella: the area's most famous red, made from grapes left to dry for months before pressing.
• Recioto della Valpolicella: its sweet ancestor, a wine for slow sipping.
• Valpolicella Ripasso: a rounder, richer red that is "re-passed" over the Amarone grape skins.
• Valpolicella: the young, fresh everyday red.

Many wineries in the valley welcome visitors for tours and tastings, often by appointment: it's worth contacting them a few days ahead, especially at weekends.

What to see in Valpolicella

• Pieve di San Giorgio: a Romanesque church with a cloister, in a hilltop village above Sant'Ambrogio.
• Villa della Torre in Fumane: a Renaissance villa surrounded by vineyards.
• Ponte di Veja: a huge natural stone arch in the Lessini mountains, above the valley.
• Roads through the vineyards: best enjoyed by bike or on foot, especially in spring and at harvest time.

Why choose an apartment

After a day of tastings it's good not to have far to drive: from Pescantina the wineries are close by, and at dinner you can open the bottle you've just bought, with a fully equipped kitchen at your disposal. The apartment sleeps 2 to 4, ideal for two couples sharing the cost and taking turns behind the wheel.