Strada del Vino Lessini Durello

 In the heart of the Veneto Pre-Alps, between the provinces of Verona and Vicenza, lies one of the most fascinating itineraries for wine and nature lovers: the Lessini Durello Wine Route. Active since 2000, the association of the same name works closely with institutions, municipalities, producers, restaurateurs and local artisans to promote this unique heritage. At the centre of it all is Durello, a sparkling wine, straightforward and full of personality, which proudly reflects the identity of the Lessinia valleys.

The Lessini Durello DOC lands stretch along picturesque valleys, where unspoilt nature and the volcanic morphology of the soil create the ideal conditions for a fresh, mineral and lively wine. In the Verona area, the route encompasses the upper Val d'Illasi, the Tramigna Valley and the northernmost municipalities of the Val d'Alpone, while in the Vicenza area it extends between the Chiampo, Leogra and Agno valleys.

It is a landscape that is both gentle and wild, where green woods alternate with neat vineyards and ancient villages seem suspended in time. Here, time slows down and visitors are invited to discover the area through a variety of itineraries: on foot, by bicycle, on horseback and by car.

The true star of the region is Lessini Durello DOC, a sparkling wine produced from the ancient native Durella grape variety, which has a high natural acidity, ideal for sparkling wine production. The result? Lively, fresh, savoury bubbles, perfect as an aperitif but surprisingly versatile at the table too.

Durello pairs perfectly with traditional local dishes: Vicenza-style salt cod, river trout and eel from Lake Garda. An authentic, sincere wine that reflects the character of its land of origin.

The Lessini Durello Wine Route is not only about taste and nature: it is also about history, legend and culture. The fossil rocks of Bolca, famous throughout the world for their perfectly preserved tropical fish imprints; traces of the presence of the Cimbri, a Germanic people who left a deep mark on the local language and customs; the ancient wine routes, travelled for centuries by merchants and pilgrims.

And then there are the medieval castles shrouded in mystery and the Venetian villas dotted across the hills, not to mention Luigi Da Porto's novella, written in the early 16th century, which was the first to tell the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, inspired – according to some sources – by the landscapes and places of the Val d'Alpone.

The valleys of Lessinia are ready to welcome those seeking something different: not mass tourism, but slow, conscious tourism, which loves to discover the stories hidden behind every glass and every glimpse.