Explore the unique allure of luxury wine travel through Italy’s stunning gardens
By Jamie Knee
Sunlit terraces draped in ivy. Sparkling glasses of Franciacorta. Garden tables shaded by olive trees and perfumed with citrus blossoms. Across Italy, there are places where wine, landscape, and leisure intertwine so beautifully that the act of sipping becomes its own art form.
These are not simply restaurants or hotels. They are destinations where time slows, where a glass of wine mirrors the mood of a place, and where every meal feels like a celebration of Italian ease. Come wander through five of Italy’s most enchanting garden escapes — where luxury unfurls quietly, and life tastes sweeter under the Mediterranean sun.
For more European elegance, explore my guide to travel along the Côte d’Azur.
1. Le Albareta, Franciacorta: Sparkling Vineyards & Slow Mornings
On the hillsides of Franciacorta, a secluded Relais & Châteaux villa gazes over Italy’s premier sparkling-wine vineyards. Terraces wrapped in ivy offer sunrise views across the vines, and breakfast outdoors feels like a love letter to the land.
What to Sip:
Ca’ del Bosco Franciacorta Rosé Brut — refined and delicately mineral.
What to Pair:
Crudo di pesce with sea salt, olive oil and citrus, followed by risotto al Franciacorta.
Insider Tip:
Take breakfast outdoors. House-made pastries with vineyard views are the essence of La Dolce Vita.
Wine lovers will recognize the same devotion to terroir seen in Sonoma’s cool-climate vineyards.
2. Hotel de Russie, Rome: Artichokes, Sparkling Stones, and Secret Gardens
Just steps from Piazza del Popolo, a private courtyard hides behind a grand facade — shaded by palms, roses and tiered greenery. This is Rome’s most elegant secret garden, where lunch becomes theatre and sunlight plays across ancient stone walls.
What to Sip:
Ferrari Trentodoc or La Scolca Black Label Gavi di Gavi.
Perfect Pairing:
Fried Roman artichokes and cacio e pepe — simplicity and perfection.
Insider Tip:
Reserve for lunch. The dappled garden light turns every glass and plate cinematic.
3. Aman Venice: Roses on the Grand Canal
Few gardens exist in Venice, and even fewer open onto the Grand Canal. At Aman Venice, roses, magnolia trees and wisteria frame one of Italy’s most romantic aperitivo settings. Gondolas drift past while the evening light deepens over the water.
What to Sip:
Franciacorta or Soave Classico with crisp mineral edges.
Perfect Pairing:
Venetian cicchetti: baccalà mantecato, grilled langoustine, or marinated anchovies.
Insider Tip:
Time aperitivo for sunset, when canal light glows gold and the air smells faintly of sea salt and wisteria.
4. Splendido, Portofino: Lemon Groves Above the Sea
Above the harbor of Portofino, gardens cascade toward the sea in waves of lemon trees, bougainvillea and olive groves. At Belmond Splendido, terrace dining overlooks the Ligurian marina — a Riviera dream of perfume, sea breeze and soft light.
What to Sip:
Ligurian Vermentino with Mediterranean minerality.
Perfect Pairing:
Trofi e al pesto, followed by grilled branzino with lemon and capers.
Insider Tip:
Book an olive-oil tasting paired with warm focaccia. The estate oils are exquisite at golden hour.
It feels like the Italian cousin of the serene gardens found in Paso Robles wine-country escapes.
5. Capri Palace Jumeirah: Lemon Stars Over Anacapri
High above the sea, where Capri’s hills turn warm at sunset, lies a courtyard scented with lemon trees and framed by ancient columns. At L’Olivo, Capri’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, dining becomes an evening ritual — where wine, sea breeze and starlight blend in quiet refinement.
What to Sip:
Falanghina or Greco di Tufo (bright, saline, elegant) or Aglianico for richness.
Perfect Pairing:
The famed Lemon Risotto, followed by spaghetti alle vongole or local red prawns.
Insider Tip:
Reserve at sunset. The views across Ischia and the Gulf of Naples feel almost unreal. After dinner, stroll Anacapri with a limoncello gelato.
Sip & Stay (Bookmark-Worthy Resorts)
Le Albareta Relais & Châteaux
http://www.albereta.it
Hotel de Russie, Rome
https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/hotel-de-russie/
Aman Venice
https://www.aman.com/hotels/aman-venice
Belmond Splendido, Portofino
https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/italy/portofino/belmond-splendido-mare/
Capri Palace Jumeirah
https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/italy/capri-palace-jumeirah
Your Turn: Where Would You Sip the Sweet Life?
Which garden calls your name — lemons in Capri, roses in Venice, vineyards in Franciacorta?
Tell me your dream escape, and I’ll help you pair it with the perfect glass.
Cin cin to your own La Dolce Vita.
— Jamie Knee
The Petite Wine Traveler
https://petitewinetraveler.substack.com/p/passport-postcards-living-la-dolce
