Food Tour, Wine And Olive Oil

Food Tour, Wine and Olive Oil, 2 hours, rated 4.4 across 257 traveller reviews.

Overview

This two-hour walk pairs nine food tastings with two glasses of local wine, led by a guide born and raised in Verona. It starts at the Redoro bruschetteria on Corso Porta Nuova, where the first tasting is extra virgin olive oil served on bruschetta alongside raw olives. From there the route winds through the historic center, past the Arena, Castelvecchio, Porta Borsari and Piazza Erbe, with short stops at shops and bars along the way.

The food runs from old-fashioned chocolates at a local chocolatier to Monte Veronese cheese from the hills around the city, plus local ham and the salami known as soppressa. The wine stop near the Arena pours two iconic Valpolicella reds, or a rosé from Lake Garda if preferred, with water and taralli snacks on the side. The tour finishes at a pasticceria that makes Pandoro, Verona's famous cake, or with a taste of Risini, a pastry made with rice grown south of the city.

It suits travellers who want an introduction to Veronese food and a guided walk through the center at the same time. Vegetarians can be catered for, but gluten and lactose allergies cannot.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at RedoroThe tour starts at Bruschetteria Redoro, Corso Porta Nuova 5, Verona. The first tasting here is extra virgin olive oil from the oil mill, served on bruschetta with raw olives.
2. Arena and chocolatier stopsSightseeing at the Verona Arena for 10 minutes, then a 5-minute stop at Museo Lapidario Maffeiano. Chocolate tasting follows at Confetteria Filarmonica, 5 minutes.
3. Castelvecchio and Porta BorsariA 5-minute sightseeing stop at Castelvecchio Bridge and another 5 minutes at the Roman Porta Borsari, with a 5-minute stop at a local bakery.
4. Piazza Erbe and wine15 minutes in Piazza Erbe, then 15 minutes of wine tasting at a local bar near the Arena, with two glasses and taralli snacks.
5. Finish at Flego PasticceriaThe final stop is Flego Pasticceria for Pandoro, Verona's most famous cake, or Risini, a rice pastry from the fields south of Verona.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to know before booking, based on the listing and on what past participants have written.

• What to wear. The listing asks for comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. The tour involves moderate walking through the city center, so this is practical advice rather than a formality.
• Come hungry. Nine tastings are spread across the two hours, from olive oil to cake. The listing itself says to come hungry, and several reviewers mention finishing with prosciutto, cheese and wine.
• Guides set the tone. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides' knowledge of Verona's history and food, and their willingness to answer questions.
• Food limits. Vegetarians are welcome and can be catered for, for example cheese instead of meat at the final tasting. Gluten and lactose allergies cannot be accommodated.
• Wine and children. Wine is served only to guests aged 18 and over, with suitable alternatives for younger participants. Children under 6 enter free but must be reported in advance.
• Bring questions. Multiple reviewers describe asking the guide about everything from Dante to winemaking and getting detailed answers. The walk doubles as a city tour, so questions about landmarks are fair game.

Common issues. The most consistent criticism in the reviews is portion size: one reviewer expected more food and wine than was served and noted fewer full tastings than advertised. The summarized feedback on the listing raises the same point, saying some travellers would like more substantial servings aligned with the advertised quantities. The tour cannot cater for gluten or lactose allergies, which rules it out for those travellers entirely.

Common Questions