TRAVEL & WINE EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD
Milan.
ITS ALL ABOUT THE WINES, FOOD, COCKTAILS. VINES.
Italy’s fashion and financial capital, is a vibrant metropolis known for its cutting-edge design, historic architecture, and world-class dining. From the iconic Duomo di Milano to the stylish boutiques of Via Montenapoleone, the city seamlessly blends tradition with modernity.
Join me as a Vinitaly Italian Wine student as we dive into the world of Italian Wines. Photo by Benjamin Voros.
Published 15 Jun 2025
Also see our article on Rome
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Dining with Wines.
01 WINE IS BEST WITH FOOD AND FRIENDS.
Milan is renowned for its unique culinary heritage, here's some of our top places.
Da' Berti
Ristorante Da' Berti | One of the best restaurants with an extensive cellar of Italian Wines. Reservations only as it's quite popular but always available as walk ins. The menu is extensive: tartare, carpaccio, and cold cuts boards; risottos and homemade pasta; cutlets, steaks, and a large grill section and indulgent desserts.
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Via Francesco Algarotti, 22, Via Timavo, 8, 20124 Milano
Photo from Facebook/DaBerti
Wine Bars. Enotecas.
Here's some of our favorite wine bars serving up Aperitivo with wines and bitesize Italian snacks. Photo from Website Cantina Isola
02 SOMMELIERS HOT FAVOURITE
Cantine Isola dal 1896 | A traditional wineshop along Chinatown in Milano. Extensive wines to choose from with very knowledgeable staff. Enjoy aperitivo with some snacks
Via Paolo Sarpi, 30
Il Gottino Milano | A nice chic little wines with lots of wines by glass. Enjoy aperitivo with some snacks
Largo Fra Paolo Bellintani, 2
Palinurobar | A chic winebar paired with contemporary aperitivo snacks using international flavours with a focus on organic, natural wines that Italy offers.
Via Giovanni Paisiello, 28
Silvano Vini e Cibi | A big selection of wines paired with small bites thats inspired by Italiano Mediterranean Cuisine.
​Piazza Morbegno, 2, 20125 Milano MI, Italy
03 BACK TO THE VINES.
Milano is close to some of the major wine regions thats 1-3hours drive away. Perfect for a weekend road trip.
Lombardy.
Valtellina.
Valtellina Superiore DOCG is one of the few wine areas in Lombardy's northern Alps and is divided up into an additional five geographically-divided sub-zones. The entire area stretches along the northern banks of the Adda River, from Tirano in the east and almost to Morbegno in the west. It's also considered heroic viticulture with vines growing at 500-800m above sea level with very steep banks.
Ca Bianche | Winemaker Davide and his wife runs this winery in middle Valtellina handed down from generations in the family. Also making the prized Faset Sforzato di Valtellina using 100% Nebbiolo grapes that's grown at a vineyard at Tirano, about 700 metres above sea level. Prebook before hand your wine tasting experience.
Via S. Stefano, 15, 23037 Tirano SO, Italy
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Franciacorta.
Franciacorta is a small wine region in the Lombardy region of northern Italy just 70km east of Milan, specifically within the province of Brescia. It's known for producing high-quality sparkling wines, earning it the Italian wine classification of Franciacorta DOCG. These sparkling wines are made using the traditional method, similar to Champagne, with a minimum aging period of 18 months on lees using a minimum of 85% Chardonnay.
Guido Berlucchi | Tracing back to the mid 1950's where Mr Berlucchi tasked the young enologist Franco Ziliani to improve the quality of his Pinot Del Castello. Franco who has travelled extensively to Champagne Region in France note that the Franciacorta region had a very similar climate and growing conditions, so he took a chance at producing a sparkling wine in the Metodo Classico, or traditional style. It’s worth starting your visit of Franciacorta at Guido Berlucchi to retrace the history of the wine and take a tour of the 16th century Palazzo Lana
Via Duranti, 4, 25040 Borgonato BS, Italy
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https://www.berlucchi.it/cantina-e-visite/cantina-storica/
Photo from Livia Hengel
Oltrepò Pavese
Located just 80km south of Milan in the Province of Pavia, the Oltrèpo Pavese is bordered by Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Liguria, and takes its name from its geographic location just to the south of Italy’s largest River, the River Po. Some of the star of the region are Pinot Nero aka Pinot Noir and Croatina.
Tenuta Travaglino | In 1868 Cavaliere Vincenzo Comi of Milan purchased the Villa and 810 Milanese perches – about 53 hectares - of surrounding land. It would become the first part of the Travaglino Estate. Travaglino highlights the lively, restless personality of the Oltrepò Pavese, which is expressed by its most representative varieties: Pinot Noir and Riesling Renano. Alessandro Cerri Comi now manages most of the winery with Winemaker Achille Bergami.
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Località Travaglino, 6, 27040 Calvignano PV, Italy
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https://www.travaglino.com/en/
Photo from Facebook/TenutaTravaglino
32 BACK TO THE VINES.
Milano is close to some of the major wine regions thats 1-3hours drive away. Perfect for a weekend road trip.
Piemonte.
Alba, Langhe.
Just under 2 hours drive from Milano lies Alba. It is the capital of the Langhe, a hilly area in the south of Piedmont. The Langhe is known for its delicious wines, fruit, and nut trees.
Pio Cesare | Pio Cesare was born in 1881 when Pio Cesare , Cesare by name and Pio by surname, a successful entrepreneur ​​produced wine from the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco.
The family owns approximately 70 hectares of vineyards in particularly suitable locations, blending and making wines from each vineyard and each area to produce wines that represent the style of the signature Barolo, Bararesco, Alba wines. A visit to the cellar and tasting room is a must when visiting Alba, do make a reservation.
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Via Cesare Balbo, 6, 12051 Alba CN, Italy
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https://www.piocesare.it/visite-e-degustazioni/
Photo from Facebook/piocesarewinery
Asti.
A small sleepy town lies Cocconato, just 1h30 from Milan. It is a small village of medieval origin located a few kilometres from Asti, Piedmont. The village is also known as “the Monferrato Riviera”, due to its mild climate, which allows plants typical of maritime areas to grow, such as palm trees and olive trees.
BAVA & Cocchi | The Bava family has been cultivating vines in this area since 1600 and in 1911 built its first winery right here in Cocconato, Piemonte, producing Barolo, Barbera and Ruche. The family property extends into Monferrato and the Langhe with sustainable agriculture methods in the three farms of Cocconato, Agliano and Castiglione Falletto.
It acquired Cocchi which produces Alta Langa sparkling wines and the prized Cocchi Vermouth. Have a chat with their friendly staff when tasting at the cellar.
Str. Monferrato, 2, 14023 Cocconato AT, Italy
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Photo from Facebook/bavawinery
Local Cuisine.
04 PAIRING WINES WITH FOOD
Milanese classics to try while you are in town.
Cotoletta alla Milanese.
Cotoletta alla Milanese, (Crumbed veal cultet) is one of the most well known dishes of the Lombardy cuisine, and can be found everywhere in the city of Milan – from a Michelin-starred restaurant, to your common café selling quick lunches. Photo from insidetherustickitchen.com
Risotto alla Milanese.
Risotto alla Milanese | Legend has it that this dish came about in the 16th century when one of the apprentices working on the Duomo’s stained-glass windows decided to add saffron to white rice made with cheese and bone broth to create that creamy luxurious texture. Photo from www.biffigalleria.it
From Spritz to Cocktails.
05 LETS HAVE A KIKI
Italy is home to the Aperol spritz and many great spirits from lemoncello to amaros. Heres some of coolest bars in Milan. Photo Facebook / Moebiusmilano
Moebius.
Moebius | Friendly bartenders in the Italian style, interesting cocktails. Made by the people for the people.
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​Via Alfredo Cappellini, 25
1930.
1930 Bar | 1930 is Milan's most famous cocktail bar but you have to say Ciao Bello to the owners of Mag Cafe to be considered access to this bar. Backdoor 43 is also part of the family, the world smallest cocktail bar at 4 square meters.
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 43, 20143 Milano MI, Italy
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https://farmily.webflow.io/locali/mag
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re/sources.
06 LETS PLAN A TRIP
Here's some of the resources to help you plan for your next trip to Italy.
STAY Spice Hotel is located just 3mins walk from Milano Centrale. Map
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TO DO Navigli District Canal Boat Tour with Aperitivo. Enjoy a traditional Milanese aperitivo while cruising through the canals of the Navigli district by boat with a glass of wine.
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​TOGETHER, let’s make a more connected and generous place—one coffee, one drink, and one story at a time.
/Curated.
IT'S OUR PLEASURE. GRAZIE MILLE.
LIZA is from Italy. She is a International Cabin Crew based in Rome.
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PETER is based in London. He works as an international Cabin Crew and is a Professional Sommelier.
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JJ is based in Sydney. He works as a Business First Cabin Crew and is a Professional Sommelier and teaches hospitality.
Special Thanks​.
VIA Vinitaly Alumni
Embassy of Italy, Australia