A gourmet destination with historic feel near Lake Garda to put on your bucket list

Nestled away around six kilometres from the shores of popular Lake Garda in the Bardolino vineyards, Villa Cordevigo Wine Resort, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, is the ultimate retreat for wine gourmands and those looking for secluded luxury.

While the beaches and beautiful lakeside towns are just a short drive away, the Cordovigo area is largely unexplored by tourists flocking to Italy’s largest lake. But the location is well loved by locals and those in the know. This secret oasis is the perfect base to explore the nearby vineyard areas of the Veneto, and the many treasures found in the lake’s hinterland, minus the large number of tourists, who typically stick closer to the lake.

Passing the large iron wrought door and driving along the impressive lane lined by large cypresses felt like magically being transported into the splendid past of the Veneto’s regal era.

Built as a holiday retreat for noble Venetian families, the opulent red and yellow villa dating back to the 18th century is surrounded by 100 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, gently rolling hills, and a large garden area shaded by century-old trees.

At the end of the 1990s, the property was purchased by the Cristoforetti and Delibori families, joint owners of the nearby Vigneti Villabella winery. They carefully restored the stately historic complex and turned it into a 40-room luxury retreat in 2011.

After leaving the parking lot set a bit aside you will be once again drawn into a magnificent past stepping to the splendid, serene courtyard surrounded by the manor house and the two large wings added slightly later.

The stunning Renaissance chapel dedicated to St Martin is a true architectural gem. It’s home to over 3,000 saint relics collected during the 18th century by then owner Bishop Marcantonio Lombardo. The chapel is still consecrated and each year on 11th November there is a celebration in honour of saint St Martin.

The Rooms At Villa Cordevigo

Distributed across the main part of the complex surrounding the courtyard, all rooms are individually styled though period furniture, rich fabrics, wooden beamed ceilings, marble and terracotta are found in each, reflecting the historic character of the property. Few also have their own terrace.

As for modern amenities, there are of course large flatscreen TVs, a minibar, and safe. Also worth mentioning as it’s still not common in hotels, the wifi connection worked flawlessly in our room and around the other parts of the hotel.

For our stay, we opted for one of the suites spotting their own small terrace and whirlpool. Nestled on the first floor of the eastern wing, which is basically built into a hill, the room offers the utmost privacy as it’s completely shielded by outside views.

Food And Drinks At Villa Cordevigo

A former vaulted storeroom and cellar today is home to Fiordilej Bar, a rustic oasis where we sampled delicious cocktails prior to dinner. A favourite? The Chiaroscuro (translating into light and dark), a spritz cocktail made with the Vignetti Villabella’s own Chiaretto di Bardolino spumante (a sparkling rosé), Carpano Antico Forumla vermouth, and soda.

Already a bit too fresh to sit outside prior to dinner (which in Italy starts usually not before 8pm; a time already considered early by locals), enjoying cocktails on the beautiful terrace is on my bucket list for the next visit.

The two restaurants, Michelin-starred Oseleta and Cordevigo Restaurant, are at the core of Villa Cordevigo’s culinary journey.

Named after an indigenous grape cultivated on the Cordevigo estate, Oseleta Restaurant too puts a strong focus on local, seasonal ingredients. That said, chef Marco Marras is known to virtuously match the traditional local dishes with the flavours of his native Sardegna. The honey-marinated scampo was a true revelation, as was the Carnaroli rice with pumpkin puree, red cow parmesan and Amaretto reduction (a refined version of the popular local Amarone risotto). Likewise, the ravioli filled with lobster were superb and a true example of Mediterranean cuisine.

While I definitely recommend dining at Oseleta, I truly loved the more relaxed atmosphere of the Cordevigo Restaurant. Open for both lunch and dinner, it serves excellent local cuisine, from homemade pasta to the local Amarone risotto, fish and meat from the area and a selection of delicious desserts.

Unless you fancy your breakfast served in the privacy of your room, a breakfast buffet with a vast range of pastries and homemade cakes, cereals, cold cuts and cheeses is served at Cordevigo Restaurant.

Eggs are made to order, too though your choice is down to fried and cooked eggs (scrambled eggs are part of the buffet). There is actually an extended eggs menu, including omelette, eggs benedict, and eggs with salmon, which can be ordered at an additional cost. Which for me was the only downside of our stay. Considering room rates starting around EUR 250 for a classic room, I found it a bit annoying that guests would be asked to pay extra for slightly more fancy breakfast eggs.

How To Spend Your Day At Hotel Villa Cordevigo

There is plenty to do during the day at Villa Cordevigo, from leisurely strolls through the park and surrounding vineyards to enjoying a few relaxed hours at the pool, get pampered at the spa, book a wine tasting or a cooking class with Nonna (grandma) Antonia, there is enough to do without leaving the property.

That said, it’s just 15 minutes to the shores of Lake Garda, and just under half-an-hour to the historic centre of Verona. Which are both worth being explored.

Villa Cordevigo is also perfectly located to explore the surrounding wine areas of Lake Garda, including the DOC areas of Bardolino and Lugana closer to the shores of the lake. Meanwhile, around 15 minutes eastwards you will find the beautiful Valpolicella wine region. Still largely unexplored by international tourists, there is a thriving wine tourism scene here, with many of the local wineries operating tasting rooms and wine shops on a regular timetable.

Wine tasting at Villa Cordevigo

When your hosts are among the leading local winemaker families, your visit at Villa Cordevigo would not be complete without enjoying one of the wine tasting options curated by the property.

There are three different options including the ‘Lake Garda’ tasting, based on wines made in the DOC areas of the lake, the ‘Villa Cordevigo’ tasting which consists of wine made directly at the estate, and the ‘From west to east’ option. The latter is based on a selection including a Lugana DOC, Bardolino DOC and two excellent Amarone wines from the Valpolicella.

All of the wines will come either from the Vigneti Villabella or Cordevigo estate.

Final thoughts

I truly loved our stay at Villa Cordevigo, and it clearly reminded me that I am not visiting this beautiful area I once called home nearly as often as I should.

The hotel itself is exactly the place I fancy for a long weekend. The location within the vineyards, exciting wine tasting and gourmand options along with the pool and spa make leaving the place an option you can easily scrap at all. Though if one is in the right mood, a short 10 to 15 minutes’ drive away and there is plenty of more to explore.

There are so many reasons to put Villa Cordevigo on your hotel bucket list!