Top Wine Experiences to Add to Your 2026 Bucket List: Why Palazzo di Varignana Should Be Your First Stop
A new year always brings a fresh wave of wanderlust, the kind that inspires us to dream bigger, travel slower, and savor the experiences that make life feel a little more extraordinary. If you’re already plotting your 2026 adventures, make room at the very top of your list for a destination that blends timeless Italian charm with immersive, nature-rich, wine-driven experiences: Palazzo di Varignana.
Nestled in the rolling hills just outside Bologna, Palazzo di Varignana is a place where wine, culture, wellness, and landscape come together in perfect harmony. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or simply looking for an unforgettable escape, this estate offers some of the most inspiring wine experiences in Italy and 2026 is the year to discover them.
Check out our list of the ultimate must-try wine experiences, all hosted at Palazzo di Varignana, to help you build a bucket list worth finishing.
There’s no better way to ease into your Varignana journey than with the Divine Aperitif. It’s simple, elegant, and quintessentially Italian.
What’s included:
- A glass of wine
- A tasting of local products
Think of this as your perfect warm-up: a moment to slow down, sip something expressive, and enjoy flavors grown just steps away. Ideal at golden hour or after a long travel day, it sets the tone for the deep-dive tastings to come.
Wine Tasting: A Vineyard-to-Glass Journey
If you’re ready for a complete immersion into the estate’s winemaking heritage, this guided Wine Tasting experience is a must. It’s thoughtful, sensory, and designed to teach you something new no matter your level of expertise.
What’s included:
- Guided tour of the winery: from vineyard to cellar, uncover the rhythms, rituals, and stories behind every bottle.
- Guided tasting: learn to recognize each wine’s aromas, textures, and unique personality.
- Gastronomic pairings: local products enhance the flavors of each pour.
- Time for conversation: ask questions, share impressions, and connect with wine experts.
In short? It’s a beautiful, inviting journey into the soul of the estate.
Superior Wine Tasting: A Celebration of Tradition & Terroir
For travelers who want something richer — but not yet the “all-in” version — the Superior Wine Tasting offers the perfect balance.
You’ll enjoy:
- 2 glasses of carefully selected wines
- 2 extra virgin olive oils to compare (yes, EVO oil tastings are just as fascinating as wine)
- A curated selection of local products
This experience is all about understanding how Varignana’s vineyards and olive groves speak through their creations. Expect surprising nuances, fruity and herbaceous notes, and that warm feeling of tasting something deeply connected to place.
Premium Tasting: The Ultimate Flavor Immersion
If “go big in 2026” is one of your resolutions, then the Premium Tasting belongs on your list. This is the estate’s most complete sensory experience — abundant, educational, and delicious.
What’s included:
- 2 white wines + 2 red wines
- 2 premium extra virgin olive oils
- A generous tasting of local and farm-produced specialties
From mineral whites to bold reds, this tasting showcases the full spectrum of Varignana’s terroir. Expect to leave with new favorites… and maybe a bottle or three for home.
Wine Trekking Among Vineyards & Art: A Nature-Lover’s Dream
Perfect for spring or fall trips, this 3-hour wine trekking experience combines scenic hiking, hidden artworks nestled among the vines, and (of course) a well-earned tasting at the end.
Experience includes:
- A certified AIGAE environmental hiking guide
- Guide’s liability insurance
- A final tasting
Available from October–May and June–September, this route offers views that shift dramatically by season. If you want movement, mindfulness, and wine woven into a single adventure, this is your pick.
E-Bike Tour: Discover the Bolognese Hills & Varignana Through History, Nature & Wine
For travelers who crave both adrenaline and indulgence, this full-day, 6-hour e-bike tour is pure bucket-list material. It’s active, scenic, historical and ends with a well-deserved winery tasting.
Tour highlights:
- Certified MTB cycling guide
- E-bike rental + helmet
- Emergency assistance
- Stops in local villages, scenic viewpoints, and historic sites
- Cellar visit and tasting
- Liability insurance included
If 2026 is the year you’re finally making space for unforgettable trips, put this one at the top of your list. Palazzo di Varignana isn’t just for wine lovers, it’s for anyone who wants to explore, taste, wander, and unwind in a setting that feels effortlessly Italian. Book the experience, pack the suitcase, and get ready. Varignana is calling.
