At the end of a long cypress avenue, a few kilometers from Verona and Lake Garda, Tenuta Serego Alighieri reveals itself to the eye in all its charm and nobility. With a history dating back to 1353 when Pietro Alighieri, Dante’s son, bought these lands, the property is undoubtedly one of the most significant in Valpolicella.

Still inhabited today by Count Pieralvise Serego Alighieri with his family, the estate develops around the villa of Casal dei Ronchi and the lush vineyards that surround it. Its wonderful cellar and guesthouse are run in collaboration with Masi, a world reference for over 200 years in the production of the best Amarone wine, which here gives life to its extraordinary experiences to discover Valpolicella and its excellence.

And, so that you admire the word less, look at the heat of the sun that becomes wine, reaching the humor that flows from the vine.

(Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio, Canto XXV)

The estate, one of the largest and oldest in Valpolicella Classica, boasts a 650-year-old winemaking tradition that began when Pietro Alighieri bought it to when his father was into exile in Verona. Since then, Dante Alighieri’s descendants have resided permanently in this estate, which became Serego-Aligheri in 1549 after the marriage between Ginevra Alighieri and Marcantonio Serego.

The guesthouse offers 8 apartments decorated in a rustic style, with period furniture and country-chic fabrics, some of which overlook the centuries-old park, while others the rural courtyard, paved in suggestive Prun stone. Here, back in time, were carried out the main agricultural activities such as, for example, the drying of grain. In fact, still visible today, here is located the oldest vineyards on the estate, planted in 1875 on the occasion of the birth of Pieralvise Serego Alighieri, the grandfather of the current owner count Pieralvise.

There are many cultural and oenological initiatives proposed within the Masi Wine Experience: from the visits to the company’s other historic sites located nearby, which tell the story of a world-wide winemaking excellence, to horseback riding and bike tours among the vineyards, up to the wine cellar tour where, by the mutual choice of the counts and Masi, the cherry barrels are still used, as they give a wonderful perfume to the environment and an unmistakable aroma to the wines.

A real must is the Serego Alighieri Experience which includes, in addition to the tour of the estate, the tasting of 4 wines. First of all the Possessioni Rosso, the red wine of the Serego Alighieri counts, the Valpolicella Classico Superiore MontePiazzo, produced since 2003 to celebrate the 650 anniversary of the noble house, the Amarone Vaio Armaron, the icon of the Serego Alighieri Estates, and the Recioto Casal dei Ronchi, emblem of the Veronese tradition. All to be tasted accompanied by a delicious selection of local cheeses.

During a spring or summer stay, it is wonderful to dedicate yourself to the discovery of Valpolicella using the e-bikes made available by Tenuta Serego Alighieri and personally visit the vineyards where the Serego Alighieri wines are born.

Furthermore, the estate is located just 15 minutes from another location of the Masi Wine Experience: Tenuta Canova, just 10 minutes from Lazise and Lake Garda. With its wine bar and restaurant it’s a perfect spot perfect for trying some typical delicacies such as tortelli with Campofiorin or risotto with Amarone Costasera. Ça va sans dire, here too a touch of excellent wine is never missing!

The Secret

The stream to the left of the villa, called the Fosson, was the scene of a singular event during the Second World War. In the 1940s Serego Alighieri was the main warehouse of the German army ammunitions in the area going from Verona to Lake Garda. When the Americans landed in Europe, the Germans were ordered to abandon their bases and bomb everything. Dante, the father of count Pieralvise, organized a dinner serving Amarone wine in order to distract the soldiers and, during the evening, all the ammunition was thrown into the Fosson to annihilate them. Thanks to this ploy the property and a large part of Valpolicella were saved. The episode is remembered every year in the town with a procession that starts from the church and a celebration that takes place right next to the Fosson.

Useful Info

Tenuta Serego Alighieri
Via Giare 277, Località Gargagnago
37015 Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Verona
Tel. +39 045 7703622

Apartments: starting from 190 euro (for 2 people, breakfast included)
Visit of the cellars and the estate with wine tasting (120 min.): starting from 40 euro per person
Masi Wine Experience: starting from 20 euro per person

For the details of the individual experiences: www.masi.it/en