A holiday through the vineyards...on a canalboat

During your autumn holidays on a Canalboat, among the many activities which can enrich your cruise, a very interesting one would certainly be the discovery of the eno-gastronomy (vines and cuisine) of the area. Not many people know that some of the islands around Venice are strongly characterized by the presence of prestigious vineyards, which produce particular fine vines for tastings. These rows of vineyards are constantly influenced by the brackish water. The equilibrium the winegrowers have found is very delicate and light and different winemaking techniques have merged, as it always happens in the venetian culture since hundreds of years. 

On the island of “Mazzorbo”, not far from the colourful and famous Burano, you really should visit the wine estate “Venissa”, which plants derive from the re-discovery of an ancient grape quality, called “Dordona”, an autochthonous grape of Venice. The setting is magical, steeped in century-old history which can be perceived with every step. The vineyard is more a kind of garden, which conveys utmost care and accuracy for this rare and unique product. The tasting of local wines in the quaint and cosy wine cellar of the estate will leave you enthralled. 

On “Sant’Erasmo”, the bigger island also called “the orchard of Venice” for its agricultural tradition, there are even more incredible examples of winegrowing in the lagoon. The influence of the masterful French technique makes the wines of Sant’Erasmo unique.  “Orto” is one of the most peculiar wine estates, it produces its wines only for the prestigious restaurants in Venice and for retail, if you will decide to dock your canalboat in front of the estate.  Here you will breathe the air of France, not only because of the techniques that have been brought over by our cousins from beyond the Alps, but especially because of its owner, Mr. Michel Thoulouze, which is a well-known public figure as well as being a really particular and intriguing person, whom you will make acquaintance with during the wine tasting that is usually held in the garden of the estate, with view on the lagoon. 

October is the perfect month to fully enjoy these places, also because every first Sunday of the month the “Festa del mosto” (feast of the must) takes place. On that special day, the entire island of Sant’Erasmo participate actively, the whole day regattas with traditional venetian boats follow each other, there is music, there is local folklore and at the peasant fair during that days you can taste traditional dishes of the island, in midst an atmosphere of jubilation and cheerfulness that is contagious to everyone.  

If you are still thinking about which might be the ideal holiday to do in October, we hopefully have given you one good reason more to choose a cruise on a Canalboat in Veneto.