Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Winery Tour

This full-day driving tour explores the Castelli di Jesi, the cluster of medieval hill villages inland from Ancona that produce Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, the Marche's most celebrated white wine. Over roughly six hours, with transport departing from Jesi, the itinerary links two or three working wineries set among the vine-clad hills, where guests tour the cellars and taste a range of Verdicchio styles, from fresh, citrus-driven young wines to structured, age-worthy Riserva bottlings, and often the traditional Verdicchio spumante and passito as well. At each estate the producers explain the character of the grape, the influence of the hillside soils and altitude, and why Verdicchio has emerged as one of central Italy's finest white wines. A light lunch among the vineyards, paired with the estate's wines and accompanied by local salumi and cheeses, is included alongside the tastings. The €140 price covers door-to-door transport from Jesi, the winery visits, the guided tastings, and the light lunch; wine bought to take home and any additional bottles are extra. Groups are small, usually sharing a minibus, and tours run in English with a guide who frames the appellation and its history, including its association with the amphora-shaped bottle that once made the wine famous abroad. The pace is relaxed, with generous time at each estate and at the table, and the rolling landscape of the Castelli, dotted with hilltop towns such as Cupramontana and Castelplanio, is a pleasure in itself. Because tastings involve several wines, the included transport means guests can enjoy the day without driving. Jesi, birthplace of the emperor Frederick II, sits on a railway line inland from Ancona and is easy to reach as a starting point. The experience suits wine-minded travellers who want to understand Verdicchio at its source rather than simply order it in a restaurant.