Wine festival in Riva del Garda

At the northern tip of Lake Garda, Riva enjoys a Mediterranean microclimate where olives and citrus grow alongside vines. The annual wine festivals celebrate the meeting of alpine and Mediterranean cultures with stunning lakeside settings.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Climb the 13th-Century Tower That Refused to Die History · Free

   In the 13th century, the noble Bonvicini family built this tower to guard Riva's harbor. The Prince-Bishop of Trento, Federico Vanga, demanded it be torn down — it blocked his power over the port. After years of negotiation, the Bonvicinis ceded Torre Apponale (Piazza III Novembre) to the church just to keep it standing. Political deal, 800 years old. Today it's €2 and 165 steps to a view that stops every conversation: red tiled rooftops below, the harbor where Venetian traders docked, Lake Garda stretching south between limestone walls, and the Alps closing everything in. The copper weathervane at the summit — 'Anzolim de la Tor' — has been the symbol of Riva for 700 years. Entrance €2 (reduced €1), open daily 10:00–18:00.

   Backup: If the tower is closed (shoulder season, maintenance), Piazza III Novembre itself is the story — stand in the square and count the architectural layers: Palazzo Pretorio (1375), Casa del Comune (1475). Every stone is a different ruler's ambition.

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2. 2 Taste the Wine Mozart Praised by Name — Still Made Here Wine · Price: moderate

   In 1787 Mozart wrote Marzemino into his opera Don Giovanni — 'Versa il vino! Eccellente Marzemino!' That line was sung at the opera's Prague premiere. The grape? Still grown at Agraria Riva del Garda (Loc. S. Nazzaro 4, 10 minutes north from Piazza III Novembre), where the cooperative has been making wine with the same 300 local farming families since 1957. They press wine AND extra virgin olive oil from groves that are literally the northernmost olive trees on Earth, producing 250,000 bottles a year including Marzemino Trentino DOC 'Collezione Apponale.' Reserve a tasting via agririva.it or +39 0464 552133. The classic plate (€25–45) includes Mozart's Marzemino, TrentoDoc sparkling, award-winning EVOO, plus carne salada — raw cured beef documented in Trentino since the 16th century.

   Backup: Walk-in shop visits (Corte del Tipico) allow wine and olive oil purchases without a reservation. Buy a bottle of Marzemino (~€8–10) and open it that evening at the lakefront.

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3. 3 Find the Wine That Is Only Pressed During Holy Week Wine · Price: low

   Vino Santo Trentino DOC is called 'passito dei passiti' — the dried-grape wine of all dried-grape wines. Nosiola grapes are harvested in October, dried on wooden racks for six months, then pressed ONLY during Holy Week — the week before Easter — following a tradition unbroken since the late Renaissance. From harvest to bottle: minimum 6.5 years. The DiVinNosiola festival (March 27–April 10 annually) centers on the 'Rite of Pressing' — a public ceremony on Holy Thursday where you watch the oldest, most concentrated bunches go through the press for the first time. Book the NOSIOLA EXPRESS wine train connecting Valle dei Laghi wineries (tickets ~€20–30). Outside festival dates, Cantina Toblino accepts visits by reservation (toblino.it). Ask for 'Largiller' Nosiola (dry white, ~€12–15) and any available Vino Santo (sweet aged wine, ~€25–40 for 375ml).

   Backup: Outside festival season, look for Vino Santo at Agraria Riva del Garda's Corte del Tipico shop or at the Enoteca Provinciale in Trento (€10 for a 5-wine Trentino tasting including Vino Santo).

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4. 4 Watch the Lake Turn Gold from a 16th-Century Fortification Adventure · Price: low · Optional

   A 3-minute glass funicular climbs 208 meters up the cliff face to the ruins of a 16th-century Venetian fortification built to control the northern approach to Lake Garda. Standing inside the Bastione walls as the sun drops behind the western peaks, you have the entire lake below you, Riva's Venetian-roofed old town directly beneath, Monte Baldo on the opposite shore. Order a glass of TrentoDoc at the Bastione Lounge and Restaurant — you'll be able to point to the winery from the terrace. Round-trip funicular ticket €5–10, base station at the edge of old town beneath Monte Rocchetta. Time your ascent 45–60 minutes before sunset for the full panoramic effect.

   Backup: If the funicular is closed (maintenance or winter hours), the Bastione is also accessible on foot via a hiking path from town (30–45 minutes, moderate fitness required). The path is signposted from behind the old town.

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Insider tips

• The Vino Santo of the Garda area is a rare dessert wine made from dried grapes - seek it out

• Visit Agraria Riva del Garda cooperative for excellent olive oil alongside local wines

• Book a boat tour on the lake with onboard wine tasting for the ultimate experience