Valdobbiadene: Prosecco DOCG Tasting & Cartizze Pairings

4.91

(221 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the turn—Google Maps got confused by a tractor, I think—but eventually we rolled up to the estate in Valdobbiadene, surrounded by these wild green rows that just keep going. The building itself is this odd mix of glass and old stone, which I didn’t expect. Our sommelier, Marta, waved us in with a big smile and immediately asked if anyone had allergies—felt thoughtful right away.

The first glass was Cartizze Brut. I’m not going to pretend I know much about wine, but Marta made us swirl it and hold it up to the light—she said something about “perlage” (I still don’t know if I pronounced that right). It smelled like pears and something else I couldn’t place. The air inside was cool compared to outside—June sun on the stones—and you could hear birds through the open doors. We tried four different Proseccos during the tasting experience, each one paired with little plates: salty cheese cubes, thin breadsticks, then suddenly a sweet bite that tasted like almonds. The Cartizze Extra Dry was my favorite—so yeah, maybe I do have opinions now.

Marta told stories about how her grandfather used to pick grapes here before DOCG was even a thing. She laughed when my friend tried to say “Valdobbiadene” (it’s harder than it looks). There were a couple of other guests—one family with a stroller—and everyone seemed at ease, just quietly sipping or chatting. No pressure to be an expert; honestly, that helped me relax into it. The whole thing lasted maybe an hour and a half? Time felt slow in a good way.

I still think about the sunlight hitting those glasses and how every sip tasted different when you paid attention—or maybe that’s just what happens when you’re somewhere new and someone cares enough to show you around their world.