From the hills of Franciacorta to those of Garda, from the Colli dei Longobardi to the steep slopes of Valle Camonica, the province of Brescia is carpeted with vineyards that produce great wines.
Late summer and early autumn are the sweetest times to explore these extraordinary wine tourism regions, where hospitality is a must. Discover and savor them by following the winding Wine Routes and the trails marked out among vineyards and cellars. To immerse yourself in these landscapes dotted with vineyards and discover the flavors and knowledge linked to viticulture and the fascinating world of wine, visit www.visitbrescia.it for a selection of delightful—and often unusual— experiences , along with booking information.
Franciacorta: a territory, a production method, a wine
Franciacorta , home of the prized Franciacorta (the finest Italian wines refermented in the bottle using the Metodo Classico) to which it gives its name, is one of the Italian regions most beloved by wine tourists. Its hills are dotted with villages and castles, abbeys and patrician villas, and prestigious wineries: the Franciacorta Wine Route www.franciacorta.wine winds through it, starting in the center of Brescia and ending on the shores of Lake Iseo. Another reason to visit is the Festival in Cantina , scheduled for the weekend of September 19-21 . Participating wineries welcome guests with original events and guided tours with tastings. The festival offers engaging events and a rich program of initiatives dedicated to entertainment and in-depth food, wine, and culture. An event suitable for everyone: from wine enthusiasts, who can participate in themed tastings, to food lovers, who enjoy the delicious offerings of local restaurateurs and chefs, blending tradition and innovation. Ample space is dedicated to athletes, who can venture through the vineyards and hills on hikes, walks, or bike rides, as well as families, who can enjoy recreational activities and picnics in the countryside. There’s also no better opportunity to lose yourself among the many places of historical and artistic interest that dot the Franciacorta Road, from monasteries to small museums, or to pedal along the cycle paths carved through vineyards and villages.
Among the vineyards (and olive trees) of Garda and its three DOC zones
On the Brescia shore of Lake Garda, vines and olive trees characterize an enchanting Mediterranean landscape, along which the Garda Wine and Flavors Route winds , dotted with charming villages and quaint lakeside towns, dotted with wineries, olive oil mills, agritourism farms, traditional trattorias, and refined, sophisticated restaurants. You can discover it by following the driving itineraries downloadable from the website: www.stradadeivini.it (which wind through Valtènesi, for example, on the stretch from Sirmione to Salò, in the Alto Garda Park), or by relaxing on a bike along the thirty-kilometer route through the Lugana vineyards. These are the production areas of important and highly regarded Controlled Designation of Origin wines.
Valtènesi is the heart of the Riviera del Garda Classico DOC (and is at the top of the denomination), which runs from Sirmione to Limone sul Garda. Considered the last Mediterranean outpost in the heart of Northern Europe, between the municipalities of Desenzano and Salò in the heart of the Garda morainic amphitheater, it is characterized by a unique microclimate, influenced by the beneficial effects of the largest Italian lake. In this bucolic territory where hospitality is an art, vines have been cultivated since pre-Roman times. Its main wine heritage is the Groppello , which has found its chosen home here: a great native grape variety, it can be considered a sort of world heritage site, considering that in the world there are only 400 hectares cultivated precisely in this area. Another pearl of the Valtènesi is the prized Chiaretto , among the most important and appreciated Italian Rosés. Pleasant occasions to visit the Valtènesi are Valtènesi in Rosa in June and Profumi di mosto on October 5th , an event spread throughout the area, where each company offers experiences in the cellar and vineyard, from tastings to open-air art installations, to food and wine pairings (info at www.consorziovaltenesi.it).
The rolling morainic hills that hug Lake Garda to the south are the land of Lugana DOC , a refined lakeside white wine with illustrious origins, as its origins are certified since the 18th century and the winemaking tradition of these lands dates back at least to the Romans. Enclosed in a magical quadrilateral with the municipalities of Sirmione and Pozzolengo at its vertical peaks and Desenzano (with nearby Lonato del Garda ) and Peschiera del Garda at its horizontal peaks, the Lugana appellation spans the provinces of Brescia and Verona, in an area of extraordinary beauty, beloved by Italian and international tourists. The wineries welcome visitors with guided tastings, fine dining, accommodation options, themed museums, and many other delightful experiences. Produced from a particular local grape variety called “turbiana,” which guarantees structure and good longevity, Lugana—which benefits from the beneficial temperate microclimate of the lake—exudes aromas of wildflowers and citrus fruits and is today one of Italy’s most successful wines. To discover all its nuances, there is nothing better than visiting the cellars in autumn , or taking part in the Lugana Festival , an unmissable event in May in Desenzano www.consorziolugana.it.
The third DOC is San Martino della Battaglia , a dry white wine made from the white grapes of Tuchì or Tocai Friulano, which is widespread not only in Friuli Venezia Giulia but also in Veneto and eastern Lombardy. Its name derives from the place, in the municipality of Desenzano, where the bloodiest and most decisive battle of the Risorgimento was fought in 1859. A tall tower erected to honor the memory of Victor Emmanuel II and those who fought for the unification of Italy commemorates this battle. From its summit, there is an extraordinary view of the lower Lake Garda.
Pusterla, one of the largest urban vineyards in Europe, and the Colli dei Longobardi Wine and Flavor Route
Brescia boasts a rather unusual winemaking curiosity for a city: the Pusterla urban vineyard , which climbs up to the Castle , is among the largest urban vineyards in Europe , covering 3.4 hectares. The vineyard, which once provided the wines for the Desideriana nuns of the nearby Monastery of Santa Giulia (now an extraordinary UNESCO site), is the starting point of the Colli dei Longobardi Wine and Flavor Route, which extends south into an area traditionally dedicated to wine production, also to support the needs of the city, which was an important Roman center and, later, the seat of a powerful Lombard Duchy. Along the route of the Route, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, it passes through towns with ancient history (such as Botticino, Berlingo, Castenedolo, Montichiari, Montirone, Capriano del Colle, Poncarale, Prevalle, Rezzato, Rovato, San Zeno Naviglio, and Flero). Wineries, small producers of excellent food and wine, trattorias and restaurants serving the most authentic Brescian cuisine, and collections worth visiting, such as the Botticino Marble Museum. To celebrate autumn and fully enjoy its flavors, in October and November, “Autunno Longobardo” (Lombard Autumn) is organized along the Wine and Flavors Route, featuring around forty events for a true taste journey, discovering the culture and landscape of the Brescia plain. www.stradadelvinocollideilongobardi.it
Mountain vineyards and terraces at the foot of the rocks in Valle Camonica
The Brescia mountains are also a land of fine wines. In Valle Camonica (known worldwide for its extraordinary rock carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), full-bodied and highly regarded IGT wines are produced. Along ancient paths, terraced vineyards, and through villages and wineries where you can stop for tours and tastings, the Valcamonica Wine Consortium and several independent wineries offer itineraries for cycling and walking, combining sport, fine wine, and mountain cuisine. The “Between Vines and Wines” trail, for example, passes through the vineyards and wineries of the Concarena alluvial fan, accompanied by information boards illustrating the history of viticulture in Valle Camonica. Starting from the Capo di Ponte information point and arriving in the center of Breno, the route offers the opportunity to make short detours to the area’s major points of interest, including the Naquane Rock Engravings Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Parish Church of San Siro and the Monastery of San Salvatore in Capo di Ponte, the Sanctuary of the Stations of the Cross in Cerveno, and the Sanctuary of Minerva in Breno. The “Between Vineyards and Olive Trees” route winds through the vineyards and olive groves of the municipalities of Piamborno and Darfo Boario Terme, offering visitors enchanting views of Lake Moro and Lake Iseo, with stops at sites of historical and cultural significance such as the monastic complex of the Sanctuary of the Annunciata in Piamborno and the Municipal Rock Engravings Park of Luine, a World Heritage Site. A special opportunity to learn about wines and the region is, on the weekend of October 24-26, 2025, the Valle dei Segni Wine Trail www.consorziovinivallecamonica.it.