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Prosecco Hills Tours: Conegliano, Valdobbiadene and How to Choose from Venice (2026)
Prosecco hills tours explained: DOCG vs DOC vs Asolo, Rive and Cartizze, getting there from Venice or Treviso, tour vs driver vs self-drive, and the Prosecco Wine Road.
Prosecco hills tours take you north of Venice to the steep vineyards between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. This is where the top tier of Prosecco is made. This guide explains which label to look for and how to get there from Venice or Treviso. It also shows whether a tour, a driver or your own car fits your trip. It skips the wine basics and focuses on the visit.
The short answer: from Venice, a guided day tour is the simplest way to see the Prosecco hills. The wineries sit on narrow hill roads far from any station. If you already sleep in Treviso or Conegliano, a private driver lets you choose the estates. Self-drive only works with a driver who skips the wine. Italy’s limit is 0.5 g/l, and zero for new drivers. Also, look for Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG on the label, not just Prosecco DOC.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
The Prosecco hills at a glance
| Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG | Asolo DOCG | Prosecco DOC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | 15 municipalities between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene | The hills around Asolo, province of Treviso | Nine provinces across Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia |
| Landscape | Steep hogback hills, UNESCO site since 2019 | The hills around Asolo, west of the DOCG above | A far larger zone than the hills |
| Top sites | 43 Rive and the Cartizze hill | Asolo Prosecco Superiore | No single-hill sub-zones |
| Why visit | The classic Prosecco hills tours | A quieter second option | The everyday style, not a hill visit |
Where the Prosecco hills are, and why UNESCO listed them
The hills rise between the plain of Treviso and the first slopes of the Alps. In 2019, UNESCO inscribed them as “Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene”. The UNESCO listing describes steep hogback ridges and ciglioni, small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces (checked September 2026). Since the 17th century, they have shaped a checkerboard pattern.
That terrain explains what these tours actually feel like. Roads twist, villages are small and distances look short on a map but take time. In addition, the scenery changes fast, from vineyards to woods to hamlets with a single bell tower. If you want the basics of the wine itself, read our guide to Italian Prosecco first. This page is about visiting.
DOC, DOCG and Asolo: what the label tells you
The name Prosecco covers three different appellations, and tours sell very different experiences under it. Prosecco DOC is the broadest. According to the Prosecco DOC consortium’s production rules, it covers nine provinces in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and became a DOC in 2009 (checked September 2026). It is the wine behind most everyday Prosecco.
The hill zone is a separate, smaller appellation. The first local consortium was formed in 1962, and the area won DOC status in 1969. Then, on August 1, 2009, Conegliano Valdobbiadene became Italy’s 44th DOCG, according to the Conegliano Valdobbiadene consortium’s history page (checked September 2026). “Superiore” on the label signals this higher tier.
Asolo is the third player, a short drive west. Asolo Prosecco became a DOCG in June 2009. It comes from the hills around Asolo, in the province of Treviso, according to the Asolo Montello consortium (checked September 2026). In other words, if a tour promises the Prosecco hills, check which hills it means.
Rive and Cartizze
Inside the DOCG, two words matter on a winery visit. First, “Rive” means the steep slopes in local dialect, and the denomination has 43 of them. Second, Cartizze is the most famous hill. It covers just 107 hectares on the steepest slopes of San Pietro di Barbozza, Santo Stefano and Saccol, in Valdobbiadene. Both facts come from the consortium’s guide to the types of wine (checked September 2026). You may also meet col fondo, the traditional Prosecco refermented in the bottle with its sediment left in.
How to choose between Prosecco hills tours
Start with one question: who drives? Then ask where you sleep. From Venice, the hills are a full day out. From Treviso or Conegliano, by contrast, they are close enough for a half day. This table sorts the main formats by base and trade-off.
| Format | Best from | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided day tour | Venice | First-timers who want zero logistics | Fixed schedule and a long day on the road |
| Private driver | Treviso or Conegliano | Couples and small groups who want to pick the estates | Higher cost, but nobody in your party drives |
| Self-drive | A farm stay in the hills | Travelers with a non-drinking driver | The driver cannot really taste |
| Train plus local tour | Venice or Treviso | Travelers who want to avoid the Venice pickup | You must match train and pickup times yourself |
Guided day tours from Venice
Most Prosecco hills tours for visitors start in Venice. For example, our page on a Prosecco hills wine tour from Venice covers this format. Before you book, check the pickup point, since cars cannot enter the historic center. Also check how many wineries you visit and whether lunch is included.
Private drivers
A private driver makes sense once you are already on the mainland. You pick the estates, set the pace and can add a village or two. It costs more than a shared tour. However, it solves the driving question for the whole group.
Self-drive
Driving yourself works if you sleep in the hills, for instance in an agriturismo, a working farm that hosts guests. Book tastings ahead, because many small estates ask visitors to reserve. Then keep the day short: two wineries, lunch and one viewpoint. Before you rent a car, read our guide to driving in Italy.
Drinking and driving in Italy: the legal limit
The general limit is 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. However, it drops to zero for drivers under 21, for drivers in their first three years with a license and for professional drivers. Both figures come from the Automobile Club d’Italia (checked September 2026). Sparkling wine goes down easily, and small pours add up. So the only safe plan is a designated driver who does not drink at all.
Getting to the Prosecco hills from Venice and Treviso
Conegliano is the gateway by rail. Regional trains on the Venice–Udine–Trieste line serve Venezia Mestre, Treviso Centrale and Conegliano, according to Trenitalia’s regional timetable for the Triveneto (checked September 2026). Check the current timetable on the day, since schedules and planned works change.
The train, however, only gets you to the edge of the vineyards. Valdobbiadene and the Cartizze hill lie at the other end of the DOCG, with no station of their own. As a result, you still need a tour, a driver, a taxi or a bike from Conegliano. For this reason, a day tour with a Venice pickup is often simpler, even with a longer day.
The Prosecco Wine Road: stops worth knowing
The Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene links the two towns. The current route dates from 2003. It is the heir of Italy’s first wine road, created in 1966, according to the consortium’s route page (checked September 2026). Most Prosecco hills tours follow part of it.
- Conegliano: the route starts at the School of Winemaking, founded in 1876 as the first of its kind in Italy.
- San Pietro di Feletto: a hilltop parish church with wide views over the vineyards.
- Molinetto della Croda: an old water mill in a gorge near Refrontolo, an easy photo stop.
- Solighetto and Farra di Soligo: Villa Brandolini and the Credazzo towers, set among steep rows of vines.
- Valdobbiadene and Cartizze: the western end, with the most famous hill in the denomination.
The consortium’s itineraries also mention an osteria “without a host”, a rustic tavern where guests serve themselves. It has become part of local lore. Still, confirm that it is open before you plan a stop, since its way of operating has changed.
Alternatives if the Prosecco hills do not fit
Prefer red wine? Then a Valpolicella wine tour near Verona is the natural alternative, home of Amarone. Would you rather have mountains than vineyards? A Dolomites day trip from Venice goes further north, and our guide to Dolomites tours compares the options. Finally, weigh everything against our list of the best day trips from Venice.
Book your Prosecco hills day
Compare the tours on our site, then match them to your base and your answer to the driving question:
- Prosecco hills wine tour from Venice: the direct route into the DOCG.
- Valpolicella wine tour: the red-wine alternative near Verona.
- Dolomites day trip from Venice: mountains instead of vineyards.
For the bigger picture, browse all our wine tours in Italy or start from the Veneto travel guide.
Staying in the Veneto? Our guide to Valpolicella wine tasting covers Amarone and Ripasso, the Classico villages and getting there from Verona.
The village of Prosecco itself is not in these hills but on the coast above Trieste. Our Trieste wine tour page compares a tasting there with a Karst day trip.
Prosecco hills tours: frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Prosecco hills as a day trip from Venice?
Yes. A guided day tour from Venice is the simplest option. The wineries sit on hill roads away from the train line, and the driver handles the logistics.
Can you reach the Prosecco hills by train?
Partly. Regional trains on the Venice–Udine line stop at Treviso and Conegliano. However, Valdobbiadene and Cartizze have no station, so you still need a tour, driver, taxi or bike.
What is the difference between Prosecco DOC and Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG?
Prosecco DOC covers nine provinces in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG comes only from 15 hill municipalities and has been a DOCG since 2009.
What is Cartizze?
Cartizze is a hill of about 107 hectares in Valdobbiadene, the most famous sub-zone of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG.
Can I drive myself between Prosecco wineries?
Only if the driver does not drink. Italy’s limit is 0.5 g/l, and zero for drivers under 21 or in their first three years with a license.
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Matched to this article by place and interest, then ordered by Viator rating and number of reviews (checked September 2026). Prices and availability are shown live on Viator.
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