Colli Euganei Wine: A Guide to the Hills Near Padova

Most people visit Padova for the frescoes and the basilica, then head home without noticing the bumps on the skyline south of the city. Those bumps are volcanoes. Extinct, very well behaved, and covered in vines.

I’ve toured a winery there, watched a harvest and even stomped grapes with my own feet, so I can say this with confidence: Colli Euganei wine is one of the most interesting corners of Veneto, and hardly anyone talks about it. Let me fix that.

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Quick Facts

• Location: volcanic hills a few kilometres south of Padova, in Veneto (the Colli Euganei, or Euganean Hills)
• Status: a DOC since 1969, while Fior d’Arancio became its own DOCG in 2010
• Main wines: Bordeaux-style reds, sweet and dry Moscato (Fior d’Arancio), and a light fizz called Serprino
• Size: about 540 hectares of vineyards in the DOC (2022 figure)
• Visiting: easy, because wineries welcome guests, but most want you to book

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Where Are the Colli Euganei?

Just south of Padova, the flat plain suddenly gives up and lifts into a cluster of cone-shaped hills. In total, around 80 of them rise out of the plain, depending on who is counting, and the highest, Monte Venda, reaches 603 metres.

They were formed by volcanic eruptions roughly 35 to 43 million years ago. Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen on your holiday. What the eruptions left behind is volcanic rock such as basalt and trachyte, and that’s what the vines grow in.

On top of that, the hills are a protected area. The Parco Regionale dei Colli Euganei was set up in 1989 as the first regional park in Veneto, and in 2024 it joined UNESCO’s network of biosphere reserves.

What Makes the Wine Different?

Volcanic soil gets a lot of romantic talk in the wine world, so I try not to promise miracles. What I can say is that the hills give growers varied slopes and rocky soils in a very small area. In fact, most vineyards sit between about 50 and 300 metres, with some reaching around 400.

The local wine consortium, for example, describes its Garganega as having a savoury character from the volcanic soil. However, that’s a producer’s description, not a lab result, so judge it in your own glass.

The other thing to know is that the area is small. The DOC covers about 540 hectares, and the five-year average output is around 19,750 hectolitres. That works out to roughly 2.6 million bottles a year (my own sum, so treat it as a rough guide). As a result, a winery visit is the best way to try the full range.

Colli Euganei Wine at a Glance

Wine	What it is	Style
Colli Euganei Rosso	A red blend based on Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère	Structured, fruity, made for food
Colli Euganei Rosso Riserva	The same idea, aged at least 24 months	Deeper, more serious
Fior d’Arancio DOCG	Made from Moscato Giallo (yellow Muscat), at least 95%	Sweet sparkling, passito or dry, very floral
Serprino	Light sparkling white from the Serprina grape	Fresh, easy, aperitivo-friendly
Colli Euganei Bianco	A white blend led by Garganega	Fresh, floral, fruity
Single-grape wines	Merlot, Cabernet, Carmenère, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Manzoni Bianco and more	Varies by grape

The Reds: Bordeaux Grapes in Veneto

This is the surprise for many visitors. In the hills near Padova, the classic red wine isn’t made from an old Italian grape. Instead, it’s made from Merlot and the Cabernets, with Carmenère in the mix.

According to the Italian magazine Gazzetta del Gusto, a noble family planted these varieties near Monselice back in 1870. Since then, they’ve become the backbone of Colli Euganei Rosso. Producers age their reds in large casks or smaller barriques. Vignalta in Arquà Petrarca, for example, makes a Riserva from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged three years in oak.

One thing is changing, though. In late 2025, the consortium approved a change so that red wines carry simply “Colli Euganei DOC”, with the grape name allowed only in smaller print. At the time of that report it still needed approval from the Region and the Ministry of Agriculture, so check the label on your bottle. The idea is to put the place first and the grape second.

Fior d’Arancio: The Sweet Surprise

If you only try one thing here, make it a Fior d’Arancio. I recommend it without hesitation, because it’s the wine that made me fall in love with Italian wine. Made from Moscato Giallo, it smells like a bunch of flowers got into a fruit bowl.

Fior d’Arancio is the only DOCG in the area, and it comes in three styles. The sparkling version is sweet and light, while the passito is made from dried grapes and is richer. The dry version, meanwhile, is a surprise for people who expect Moscato to be sugary. Wineries such as Maeli in Baone and Quota 101 in Torreglia make several of these styles, which makes them good places to compare. The full story of how it won me over is in my Fior d’Arancio DOCG guide.

Sweet wine has an image problem, and I get it. Still, a chilled Fior d’Arancio with salty cheese is a good way to change your mind.

Serprino: Not Prosecco

Serprino is the easy one. It’s a light, fresh, lightly sparkling white made from Serprina, a local relative in the Glera family. Prosecco comes from that same family, but the consortium is clear that this is its own wine.

Think of it as an everyday aperitivo wine, because it’s cold, bright and easy to like. In fact, it’s one of the easiest Colli Euganei wines to say yes to if you’re not sure what to order.

The Whites and the Rest

The denomination is generous. Besides the wines above, it also covers Garganega, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Tai, Moscato and a few local oddities such as Pinello and Manzoni Bianco. The Bianco blend, for instance, has to include at least 30% Garganega.

Manzoni Bianco is a good one to try if you like curiosities. It was created at the wine school in Conegliano by crossing Riesling Renano with Pinot Bianco, and is known for pepper, nettle and tropical fruit.

If you’re someone who likes hunting for unfamiliar grapes, you’ll enjoy my list of lesser-known Italian grapes.

What to Eat With Colli Euganei Wine

You don’t need a fancy pairing plan. Instead, start with these natural matches:

• Serprino: aperitivo snacks, cured meats and light fried bites
• Fior d’Arancio (sparkling): salty cheese, or a not-too-sweet dessert
• Dry Fior d’Arancio: spicy or aromatic dishes, where a floral white shines
• Rosso and Riserva: grilled meat, ragù and aged cheese
• Garganega and Bianco: fish, risotto and vegetable dishes

If you want a bigger list, my Italian wine and food pairings guide goes further.

How to Visit Colli Euganei Wineries

The easiest way is to treat it like a countryside day out. First, pick two or three wineries. Then book ahead and leave time for lunch.

• Check the wine road. The Strada del Vino Colli Euganei also lists wineries, agriturismi and restaurants in the area
• Book a tasting. Tastings I found listed start from around €25 per person, but some wineries ask for a day’s notice or more
• Ask about language. Many offer English, but you should still confirm when you book
• Plan your timing. Lunch breaks are real in Italy, and harvest season can limit visits
• Go during Cantine Aperte. The open weekend at the end of May usually has special tastings and walks. In 2025, for example, tickets were listed from €15 to €18

If you want the step-by-step version, including shipping bottles home, my guide on how to buy wine directly from Italian wineries covers it.

More to See in the Hills

You don’t have to spend the whole day in a cellar, though. So here are a few places the area is known for:

• Arquà Petrarca, a medieval village where the poet Petrarch spent his last years and died in 1374. His house is now a museum
• Castello del Catajo, a huge castle-palace built in 1570
• Giardino di Valsanzibio, a garden famous for its labyrinth
• Abbazia di Praglia, a Benedictine abbey
• Monselice, Este and Montagnana, walled towns

The area is also known for its thermal springs around Abano and Montegrotto, so some travellers also combine a spa day with a tasting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Colli Euganei? In Veneto, a few kilometres south of Padova. They are a group of volcanic hills that rise out of the plain.

What is Colli Euganei wine known for? Bordeaux-style reds, Fior d’Arancio (a Moscato Giallo wine) and Serprino, a light sparkling white.

What is Fior d’Arancio? A DOCG wine made from at least 95% Moscato Giallo. Depending on the producer, it can be sparkling, passito or dry.

Is Serprino the same as Prosecco? No. Instead, it’s made from Serprina, a local relative of Glera, and has its own name and rules within the denomination.

When is the best time to visit? Check ahead in harvest season, because some wineries pause tours. Cantine Aperte at the end of May, on the other hand, is a popular choice.

Do I need to book a winery visit? Usually yes. Most small wineries ask for a booking, and some even want a day’s notice or more.

Can I visit from Padova without a car? I haven’t tested the public transport routes, so I’d check local timetables or book a driver for the day. Overall, a car makes it much easier to reach the wineries.

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One Last Thing

I love places that haven’t been polished for tourists, and the Colli Euganei still feel that way. Within a single morning, you can taste a Merlot grown in volcanic soil, a Moscato that smells like orange blossom, and a glass of Serprino, all before lunch.

Have you been to the hills? Tell me which winery to visit next.

— Kelly 🍷

#ColliEuganei #ItalianWine #Veneto #WineTravel

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Continue Reading

• How to Buy Wine Directly From Italian Wineries
• Grape Stomping at Bacco e Arianna
• Fior d’Arancio DOCG
• Lesser-Known Italian Grapes
• Italian Wine and Food Pairings Guide
• Best Italian Wines Under €20

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Sources

• Italian Wine Central: Colli Euganei DOC
• Quattrocalici: Colli Euganei DOC
• Consorzio Vini Colli Euganei: wine selection
• Vinetur: Colli Euganei red wines to drop grape names in labeling overhaul
• Gazzetta del Gusto: Vini Colli Euganei, storia, evoluzione e dove degustarli
• Wikipedia: Euganean Hills

Information checked in October 2026. Opening times, prices and rules change, so confirm with the winery before you go.