Some of the most beautiful “secret” wineries in Veneto, those with unexpected histories, places where you can spend time immersed in the emotions each wine evokes, combined with the pleasure of fine dining.

Here are three wineries with adjoining restaurants, or in the third case, a restaurant with a large cellar, where you can taste great wines.

La Bottega del Vino, Verona

In the heart of Verona, Bottega del Vino has been at the center of our country’s cultural life since the 16th century, beloved by celebrities, artists, and heads of state from around the world for its incredibly convivial atmosphere and the importance of its cellar. When Bottega del Vino was about to change ownership in 2010 (it now belongs to the Famiglie dell’Amarone d’Arte, the most important Veronese producers of the famous wine), it was rumored that the cellar’s wine holdings were worth as much as €4-5 million. Here, in fact, you can also find some of the most valuable bottles kept in the Veneto region, such as the A.E.DOR Reserve n. 5 1840 Excellence Cognac, valued at €50,000, or the great wines of Burgundy, such as Romanée-Conti, the most expensive wine in the world. After the tasting, you can reserve a unique and charming table (for up to 10 people) in the cellar for an intimate full immersion in the fantastic world of Bacchus, or in one of the small rooms of the restaurant-osteria, which offers the must-haves of Veronese cuisine, including the famous Amarone risotto.

Cantina Villa Sandi, Crocetta del Montello (TV)

Villa Sandi is a majestic 17th-century Venetian villa, the official headquarters of the Moretti Polegato family winery, one of Italy’s leading producers, boasting a constantly growing list of awards and accolades (90 points from Wine Spectator and Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso for Cartizze Vigna La Rivetta, to name just one). The villa houses one of Italy’s most significant wineries: a history that began in the 18th century, when the Sandi family made the villa the heart of agricultural production for its trade with Venice, and became legendary during the two World Wars. The current winery occupies part of the secret tunnels dug by Italian soldiers to reach the Piave front, which provided strategic support during some of the bloodiest battles in Italian history. A few kilometers from the Villa, the visit continues at Locanda Sandi, where you can sample traditional Venetian home cooking in a farmhouse that perfectly embodies the dream of a bucolic countryside, surrounded by a park overlooking the Prosecco hills.

Cantina da Gigetto, Miane (TV)

Who would have thought that Da Gigetto restaurant, one of the undisputed temples of Venetian cuisine, hides one of the finest wine cellars in the Veneto region, boasting the largest selection of Pinot Noir in the region and one of the most important Champagne cellars, with over 40 labels? The cellar, created in the 19th century by the grandparents of Luigi Bortolini, the current owner, has been lovingly enriched year after year, a tradition continued by his children Monica and Marco, until it has become a veritable museum of wine and Venetian traditions. A tour of the various rooms and tunnels will captivate you, not only for the quality of the bottles stored there, but also for the witty irony that permeates the incredible array of objects—signs, jokes, awards, memorabilia—collected by the owners, who tell the story of Venetian customs from the 19th century to the present day. In addition to the winery, Gigetto also offers the opportunity, by reservation, to visit his well-stocked food and wine library. After the tour, in one of the cellar’s dining rooms or in the restaurant, one of the most extraordinary culinary experiences in the Veneto awaits you, with dishes that perfectly interpret regional and international cuisine without compromising the local tradition, built above all on warmth, passion, and great respect for the products of the land.