Prosecco tastes better when the hills talk back. This day tour gives you two winery stops in the Prosecco Hills and a proper family-owned osteria lunch with slow-cooking spiedo near the fire. My favorite part is the contrast: learning how Prosecco is made in the morning, then meeting the families behind the food and wine later. The one drawback to plan for is timing: you’re on the included train out of Venice and you won’t be back until around 5pm.

I like that it stays personal. The tour is limited to up to 8 people, and you travel in a private van between stops with an English-speaking live guide. On some days, guides like Carlo or Julia are at the helm, and the vibe is more local storyteller than classroom.

Key things I’d bet you’ll care about

• Small group pace (up to 8): more conversation, less waiting around.
• Two wineries, 4 tastings each: you get multiple pours to compare styles.
• A true family osteria lunch: grandma recipes, birdsong aperitivo, and spiedo by the fire.
• DOCG + older vines angle: the second winery focuses on DOCG Prosecco made with ancient vine types.
• Scenery built into the schedule: hills views are part of how you move through the day.
• Photos and wine shopping support: the guide helps with photos, and you can ask about shipping wine if you buy.

The Prosecco Hills start with Conegliano (and a real day plan)

This tour’s rhythm works because it starts with an easy train hop. You catch the train from Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia (about 50 minutes) to Conegliano, and your train tickets are included. If you’re staying in Venice, the timing is set up so you’re headed out around 9am, then you roll back toward Venice after a train leaving Conegliano around 5pm.

That matters more than you’d think. Prosecco Hills tours can feel chaotic when you’re trying to coordinate transport yourself. Here, your first job is simply to show up with the right people and an email address so the operator can send your tickets to Conegliano in advance. From there, the private van does the hillside legwork.

I also like that the day isn’t built around a rushed stop-and-go checklist. It’s built around sitting down when it counts: you’re tasting more than once, and you’re eating a full meal, not a snack that disappears halfway through the drive.

Stop 1 winery: learning the Prosecco basics with scenic breathing room

The first winery stop sets the tone. You go to a winery in a scenic area of the Prosecco Hills, and the morning tasting is designed to help you understand how Prosecco becomes what it is—right down to the secrets of the wine-making process.

What you’ll notice is that the tasting isn’t just about picking a favorite. It’s structured to teach you. You’ll have four tastings during this first winery visit, which gives you a real basis for comparison rather than one quick pour and a bye-bye.

A nice touch: the guide doesn’t treat the vineyards as a backdrop. They connect what you see and what you taste. Even if you’re new to Prosecco, the pacing makes it feel simple—taste, connect, ask questions, repeat.

Also, the Prosecco Hills here aren’t just scenic photos. They’re the setting for why you’re doing the tour in the first place: you’re not driving out to a random tasting room. You’re in the hills, moving between places that make the local style make sense.

Aperitivo in the hills: birds, views, and a slower kind of pause

Between the winery and lunch, there’s an aperitivo moment that I’d classify as the tour’s reset button. You’ll be at a local Osteria located in the hills, and before you sit down, you’ll enjoy an aperitivo in front of the vineyards with the sound of birds.

That sounds small, but it’s actually a highlight. It breaks up the day so it doesn’t turn into back-to-back tasting rooms. It also gives you a chance to take photos that look like you actually earned them. This is the kind of quiet pause you don’t get in bigger-group tours where everyone funnels into the next stop.

If you like your days to feel like you’re traveling with locals—rather than being processed like an event ticket—this is the moment that delivers that feeling.

Family-owned Osteria lunch: spiedo by the fire and four full courses

This is the part that turns the day from a tasting into a food experience. At the family-owned Osteria, you meet the family and settle into a traditional lunch built on grandma’s recipes.

The meal is four courses, and the operator makes a big deal of the cooking style. The key scene: the typical spiedo meat cooks slowly near the fire. If you’re picturing a steakhouse sizzle, don’t. This is a slow-cooking, smell-the-woodfire kind of setup that makes the whole room feel warmer.

Then there’s the dessert situation. All desserts are home made by the brother, which gives you a homemade feel that fits the rest of the day’s theme. It’s not just about tasting Prosecco; it’s about eating the local way that pairs with it.

One more reason this lunch lands well: it’s not isolated. Your guide ties the food back to the region, so you’re not just chewing through plates while the van waits outside. You understand what you’re eating and why it shows up here.

Practical takeaway: plan to eat during the day. One good tip you’ll hear from past participants is to skip a big breakfast so the lunch doesn’t feel like a forced sprint. Not everyone needs that, but if you tend to arrive hungry on tours, it’s worth considering.

Stop 2 DOCG winery: older vines and a different side of Prosecco

After lunch, the tour continues to a second winery that focuses on a higher DOCG standard and a different angle on Prosecco. This stop is run by friends of the family, and the emphasis is on DOCG Prosecco made with ancient types of vines and plenty of passion.

Here’s what makes this useful: two wineries means you can compare styles you might otherwise lump together. The first winery helps you understand production and tasting basics. The second winery gives you a feel for how Prosecco can vary when growers lean into older vine material and a more DOCG-driven approach.

You’ll have four more tastings during this stop, so by the time you’re done you’ve tasted eight separate offerings across two different wineries. That’s enough to start making sense of what you like, not just that you like Prosecco.

And because this stop happens after a satisfying meal, the day feels complete. You’re not just chasing wine. You’re finishing with better context.

The guide’s role: the difference between information and a good day

What separates this kind of tour from a generic wine outing is how it’s guided. From past runs, names like Carlo and Julia come up often, and they’re described as both entertaining and passionate.

Even if you don’t care about personalities, the guide’s value shows up in two places:

1. Turning tastings into learning instead of random sipping.
2. Keeping the day moving smoothly between Venice, Conegliano, and the hills.

The tour also supports small, practical moments. A few participants noted that the guide helps with photos at the stops, which is handy if you don’t want to keep trading your camera with strangers. And because the group is kept to 8 people max, you’re less likely to feel lost or ignored.

If you like a tour where you ask questions and actually get answers in plain language, this is the right format.

Transport and pacing: why the van + train combo works

You’ll spend part of the day on the train and part in a private van. That mix is a smart compromise.

• The train gets you out of Venice without the headache of parking or navigating.
• The private van handles the hillside routes so you can focus on the experience.

The pacing also respects how long a full day tasting can get. With a total duration of about 7 hours, you’re not stuck out for an exhausting 10–12-hour marathon. You still get a full lunch and tastings that feel substantial.

The schedule is set around a morning departure out of Venice and a return train in the late afternoon. If you’re the type who hates feeling trapped late at night back in the city, this timing is a relief.

Price and value: is $202.78 worth it?

At $202.78 per person, this is not the cheapest Prosecco Hills option. It often costs more than bigger-group tours because you’re paying for the small-group cap and the included train + private van transport.

So here’s how I’d judge the value:

• You get roundtrip train tickets from Venice to Conegliano included.
• You get a full-day private van between stops.
• You get two wineries with 4 tastings at each (8 tastings total).
• You get a four-course lunch in a family-owned Osteria, not just a sandwich situation.

That combination is what makes the price feel more reasonable. You’re paying for logistics handled for you, plus a meal that’s built into the experience. If you’ve ever paid for transport separately and then added tastings and lunch on top, the math starts looking similar fast.

Also, one practical value point: Prosecco is fairly easy to buy here if you like it. Past participants noted the tour can help with shipping wine, which can turn a fun day into a souvenir that doesn’t take up suitcase space.

Who should book this Prosecco Hills day tour

This tour is a great fit if you:

• Want two distinct winery experiences instead of a single stop.
• Appreciate a family-run meal as much as the wine.
• Like a small group where you’re not shouting over a bus engine.
• Prefer an English-speaking guide who explains without turning it into a lecture.

It might be less ideal if you’re looking for a short half-day escape, or if you don’t want to be out around 7 hours with a train ride at either end.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want the Prosecco Hills to feel authentic and local, not industrial and rushed. This day tour does three things well: it teaches you what you’re tasting, it feeds you the regional way (with spiedo and grandma-style dishes), and it keeps the group small enough to feel human.

I’d think twice only if you’re ultra-sensitive about price or you want something more casual than four courses plus eight tastings. Otherwise, this is one of those tours where the cost turns into value because the structure is doing the heavy lifting for you.

If you’re doing a Venice trip and want one day that breaks the lagoon routine with real hills, real families, and real bottles, this is an easy “yes.”

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The experience is connected to Venice’s Santa Lucia train station, but it specifically starts from Conegliano train station. Train tickets are included, and the activity ends back at the meeting point in Venice.

How long is the Prosecco Hills tour?

The tour runs for 7 hours (start times vary based on availability).

Are train tickets included in the price?

Yes. Roundtrip train tickets from Venice to Conegliano are included, and they’re delivered to you by email the day before the experience.

How many wineries will we visit, and how many tastings are included?

You visit two local wineries. Each winery includes 4 tastings, for a total of 4 tastings per stop.

What is included in lunch?

Lunch includes a 4-course meal at a family-owned Osteria, prepared with traditional recipes. There’s also mention of “spiedo” meat cooking slowly near the fire and homemade desserts.

Is the tour guide available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide provides the tour in English.

What’s the maximum group size?

The group is limited to 8 participants.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

You Might Also Enjoy

Morning Walking Tour of Venice with Gondola RideVenice: St. Mark’s Basilica Tour with Doge’s Palace OptionVenice: City Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking TourVenice Like a Local: Food, Wine & Spritz Tour with Traghetto Ride