Venice: Prosecco Hills Wineries Tour with Tastings and Lunch

The best part of this day is the change of pace. In about 50 minutes, Venice’s canals give way to the rolling Prosecco Hills, where vineyards, small wineries, and family cooking take center stage. You visit two producers, taste eight wines, and eat lunch at an Osteria run by the guide’s family.

I like the small group, limited to eight people, and the mix of wine education with real local life. Carlo, Julia, Marco, and Sebastian have all led departures, and the guides are known for being funny, warm, and full of useful local stories. I also like that the train from Venice and the private van are included.

The main drawback is the pace and the amount of food and wine. This is a full seven-hour outing, not a quick tasting stop, and lunch can be a very generous four-course meal with more wine. If you want a light, quiet afternoon, this may feel like too much of a good thing.

Key points at a glance

• Two wineries, eight tastings: Each winery serves four tastings, with different producers and styles.
• A family-run Osteria: Lunch uses traditional recipes, homemade desserts, and slow-cooked spiedo meat near the fire.
• Simple rail connection: Train tickets from Venice Santa Lucia to Conegliano are included, with a journey of about 50 minutes each way.
• A small, social group: The van group is limited to eight people, making conversation with the guide easier.
• A full day for wine lovers: The price includes rail, private van transport, winery visits, tastings, and a four-course lunch.
• A quieter side of Veneto: You leave Venice’s crowds behind for vineyard views, hill roads, and small-scale producers.

Why the Prosecco Hills make a good break from Venice

Venice is extraordinary, but it can also be tiring. Stone streets, busy squares, and packed vaporetto stops do not leave much room for a slow afternoon. This outing gives you a look at the Veneto beyond the lagoon, without requiring you to arrange several trains, a driver, and winery appointments yourself.

Conegliano is the gateway for the day. From there, your guide takes over in a private van and drives into the hills. The trip is less about ticking off famous sights and more about seeing how wine, food, and family life fit together in this part of Italy.

The views are a major reason to go. Vineyards cover the hills around the road, and the stops are chosen for their scenery as well as their wine. You will have time to take photographs, listen to the guide’s stories, and enjoy a slower rhythm than you get in central Venice.

From Santa Lucia to Conegliano by train

The practical detail that matters most is also easy to miss: the experience starts at Conegliano train station, not at Venice Santa Lucia. The operator sends your train tickets and travel instructions by email the day before, after receiving the full names of everyone in your party and one email address.

If you are staying in Venice, the planned train leaves Santa Lucia at about 9 a.m. The ride takes roughly 50 minutes. The return train leaves Conegliano at about 5 p.m., so you should be back in Venice later that day.

I like this arrangement because it keeps the day simple. You are not paying for a private transfer all the way from Venice, and the rail journey gives you a clear start and end point. Still, read the instructions carefully. If you arrive at the wrong station or miss the planned train, the rest of the schedule could become difficult.

The rail tickets are included in the $202.78 price, along with all transport after you reach Conegliano. That makes the cost easier to understand. You are not paying only for tastings. You are also paying for the train, a full day of driving, two winery visits, a substantial meal, and a guide who stays with the group throughout the day.

The first winery: how Prosecco is made

After meeting your guide at Conegliano, you ride by private van into the vineyard country. The first winery is set in an area chosen for its views, and the visit begins with an explanation of how Prosecco is produced.

This is the educational part of the day. You learn about the wine-making process, the local growing area, and the character of Prosecco before tasting the wines. The guide helps connect what you see in the vineyards with what is in your glass.

Four tastings are included at this winery. That is enough to compare wines rather than simply sample one welcome glass. If you have only encountered Prosecco as a casual aperitif, this part helps you see the range of styles and the work behind the label.

The guide makes a difference here. Carlo is often singled out for his humor and storytelling, while Julia is described as kind and clear in her explanations. Other departures have been led by Marco and Sebastian. The exact guide depends on the date, but the experience is built around an English-speaking host who remains involved throughout the day.

One practical point: this is a wine tour, not a sightseeing bus with one token tasting. The morning already includes several pours, and lunch brings more wine. Eat sensibly before you go, drink water when it is offered, and take your time with each glass.

Aperitivo among the vineyards

Between the winery visits and lunch, there is an aperitivo at the family Osteria. The setting is part of the appeal. You sit in front of the vineyards with simple food and Prosecco, while the surrounding hills provide a calm pause between the more structured winery stops.

Some departures include small bites such as sausage, cheese, and bread. These snacks help turn the stop into more than a quick drink. They also give you a taste of the local style of eating: straightforward food, good ingredients, and plenty of time at the table.

This is one of the most personal parts of the outing. You are not being moved from one commercial tasting room to another. You are being brought to a family place where the hosts know the food, the wine, and the area well.

Do not expect a formal restaurant setting with a tightly timed menu. The appeal is the country-kitchen feel and the chance to slow down. If you prefer a polished, highly structured tasting room at every stop, this may feel informal. I see that informality as a strength, but it is worth knowing what you are booking.

Four courses at the family Osteria

Lunch is a central feature, not a side note. You meet the guide’s family at their Osteria and eat traditional dishes based on family recipes. The meal is described as four courses, though some accounts of the day include several rounds of starters, pasta, meat, dessert, and additional wine.

The signature detail is spiedo, meat that cooks slowly near the fire. It gives the meal a sense of place that a standard restaurant menu cannot easily copy. You might also be served fresh pasta with a meat sauce, ribs, chicken, pork, or other local dishes, depending on the menu that day.

Dessert is homemade by the guide’s brother. That family involvement runs through the entire meal, from the recipes to the cooking and service. It is the kind of detail that makes the lunch feel connected to the area rather than added simply to fill the schedule.

Wine continues during lunch, with Prosecco and red wine mentioned as part of the meal. If you are a serious eater, you will appreciate the generous portions. If you are a light lunch person, plan to pace yourself. The tour is built around eating well, and the meal can be as memorable as the vineyards.

The second winery and a different wine style

The final major stop is another local winery. This producer is described as a high-quality DOCG Prosecco maker, using older types of vines and traditional care. The visit gives you a useful contrast with the first winery.

You taste four more wines here. That second flight matters because it lets you compare producers, methods, and flavors while the first visit is still fresh in your mind. Rather than leaving with a vague impression that all Prosecco tastes the same, you get a better feel for how much variation can exist within the region.

The second stop may also have an organic focus, depending on the winery visited. The operator works with friends who produce their own wines, so this part of the day has a personal connection rather than feeling like a standard commercial appointment.

There is usually time to buy wine if you find a bottle you like. Some visitors have arranged international shipping with help from the hosts. That service is not the main point of the tour, and shipping details can vary, but it is useful if you discover a favorite wine that is difficult to find at home.

What the small group changes

With a maximum of eight people, this is far more personal than a large coach excursion. You can ask questions without shouting across a bus, and the guide can adjust the conversation to the group’s interests.

The size also helps at lunch. You are sharing a family setting with a handful of people rather than arriving as one large crowd. Several departures have included groups of three, six, or seven, so the feel can range from nearly private to pleasantly social.

The tradeoff is that small-group departures can sell out faster, and the price is higher than larger group options. At $202.78 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste Prosecco. Yet the included transport, eight tastings, family meal, and full-day guiding make the price reasonable for someone who wants the whole day arranged.

I would not choose this for someone who only wants two glasses of wine and a quick photo stop. I would choose it for someone who wants food, conversation, scenery, and a better understanding of Veneto’s wine culture in one outing.

How the timing affects your day

The stated activity lasts seven hours, with the train ride from Venice added around the beginning and end. In practical terms, you should expect the outing to occupy most of the day, from the morning train until your return to Santa Lucia in the late afternoon or early evening.

That timing is useful for planning. Do not book a museum appointment or a restaurant reservation too close to the return train. The itinerary is organized around winery schedules, lunch, and rail times, so there is not much room for a last-minute change.

The long day is also the reason the tour feels substantial. You do not simply visit one winery and return to Venice. You get a morning tasting, an aperitivo, lunch, another winery, and scenic drives between them.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this outing if you:

• Want to see the Veneto countryside without renting a car
• Enjoy generous meals and several wine tastings
• Prefer small groups to large coach tours
• Like meeting local producers and family hosts
• Want an English-speaking guide with personality and local connections
• Have a full day available outside Venice

It is less suited to you if you dislike long meals, drink very little wine, or want a tightly controlled schedule with minimal time at the table. It may also be a poor fit if you need a late start, since the train from Venice is planned for about 9 a.m.

The tour is conducted in English. Since the day includes rail travel, van transfers, walking around winery grounds, and a long lunch, comfortable clothing and shoes make sense, though the supplied information does not specify a dress code or accessibility arrangements.

Is the $202.78 price fair?

The price looks high beside a basic winery tasting, but that is not the right comparison. The fee includes round-trip train tickets, a private van for the day, two winery visits, four tastings at each winery, a four-course lunch, and an English-speaking guide.

You are also paying for the logistics. Reaching the Prosecco Hills independently would mean arranging the train, getting from Conegliano into the countryside, booking wineries, and finding a restaurant that offers the same sort of local meal. The tour removes that work.

I would call it good value for a full day, especially if you would otherwise need a private driver. It is less attractive if your main goal is simply to taste Prosecco as cheaply as possible. The value comes from the complete experience, not from the number of ounces in each glass.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a full and food-centered day in the Prosecco Hills, with two contrasting wineries and a family Osteria at the heart of the schedule. The small group, included rail tickets, and guides such as Carlo or Julia make it easy to enjoy without handling the details yourself.

Skip it if you want a short tasting, a late start, or a light lunch. For everyone else, especially couples, friends, and wine lovers looking for a break from Venice, this is a strong choice. Just arrive ready for a generous meal, several tastings, and a long day outside the city.

FAQ

Where does the experience start?

The guided experience starts at Conegliano train station. The train tickets from Venice Santa Lucia to Conegliano are included and are sent by email the day before the activity.

How long is the train ride from Venice?

The train journey from Santa Lucia station to Conegliano takes about 50 minutes. The return train from Conegliano is planned for about 5 p.m.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The price includes round-trip train tickets between Venice and Conegliano, plus full-day transport in a private van once you meet the guide.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit two local wineries. Each includes four tastings, for eight tastings in total.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A four-course lunch at a family-owned Osteria is included. The meal uses traditional family recipes, and homemade desserts are part of the experience.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to eight participants.