By Jamie Knee | Petite Wine Traveler
Dear friends,
Welcome to Petite Wine Traveler, your Sunday sip of inspiration, blending wine, travel, and storytelling, one glass at a time.
This week, we’re indulging in La Dolce Vita, that irresistible Italian art of living well. Imagine sun-drenched terraces, garden tables shaded by olive trees, flutes of sparkling Franciacorta, bowls of silky pasta, and the Mediterranean shimmering in the distance. From vineyard-view lunches in Franciacorta to terrace dining on Capri, I’ve curated a few of my favorite places where wine, food, and setting come together in pure Italian magic.
✨ Pack your linen and sunglasses, we’re going garden hopping in Italy.
🌿 Le Albereta, Franciacorta, Italy
The Setting: A villa nestled above the vineyards of Franciacorta, with ivy-draped terraces and manicured gardens. I still remember sipping on our balcony overlooking the vines...
🍇 What to Sip: Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta Rosé Brut — a personal favorite.
🍴 Perfect Pairing: Marinated pink prawns, Crudo di pesce with olive oil and sea salt, followed by risotto al Franciacorta.
✨ Jamie’s Tip: Take breakfast outdoors, their house-made pastries + views of the sparkling vineyards are la dolce vita defined.
🌿 Hotel de Russie, Rome
The Setting: One of Rome’s most beautiful hidden courtyards, the Jardin de Russie is a verdant oasis behind the hotel’s grand facade.
🍇 What to Sip: Ferrari Trentodoc sparkling — an Italian gem, or La Scolca Black Label Gavi di Gavi!
🍴 Perfect Pairing: Roman artichokes, and cacio e pepe, bellissimo!!
✨ Jamie’s Tip: Book for lunch, when dappled light through the garden creates an almost cinematic atmosphere.
🌿 Aman Venice, Italy
The Setting: A secret garden on the Grand Canal — one of the few in Venice. Roses, wisteria, and ancient magnolia trees frame an impossibly romantic space.
🍇 What to Sip: Franciacorta or a crisp Soave Classico.
🍴 Perfect Pairing: Venetian cicchetti — think baccalà mantecato or grilled langoustines.
✨ Jamie’s Tip: Time your garden aperitivo for sunset, with the gondolas gliding by on the canal.
Belmond Splendido- Portofino, Italy
🌿 The Setting: Perched above Portofino, Belmond Splendido offers a terraced garden of fragrant lemon trees, bougainvillea, and olive groves cascading toward the sparkling Ligurian Sea. Sun-dappled tables overlook the marina, creating an atmosphere of Riviera romance.
🍇 What to Sip: A crisp Ligurian Vermentino, my favorite to enjoy here with a Mediterranean breeze.
🍴 Perfect Pairing: House-made trofie al pesto with freshly shaved Parmigiano, followed by grilled branzino with lemon and capers.
✨ Jamie’s Tip: Book a terrace table for an olive oil tasting, the estate’s own oils paired with warm focaccia. Go at golden hour when the Mediterranean shimmers below.
Capri Palace Jumeirah — Anacapri, Capri
The Setting: Nestled high in the hills of Anacapri, the Capri Palace Jumeirah offers a serene garden courtyard where lemon trees scent the air and stone columns frame views of the glittering sea below. At the heart of this luxurious escape is L’Olivo, Capri’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, where dining beneath the stars feels like the ultimate La Dolce Vita moment.
🍇 What to Sip: Begin with a crisp glass of Falanghina or Greco di Tufo from Campania, bright, mineral-driven whites that mirror the island’s sun and sea. For red lovers, a velvety Aglianico brings depth and structure.
🍴 Perfect Pairing: The famed Lemon Risotto is a must, fragrant with Amalfi lemons, it sings alongside a glass of Falanghina. Follow with fresh spaghetti alle vongole or local red prawns kissed by olive oil. End with house-made limoncello beneath the stars.
✨ Jamie’s Tip: Reserve a table at sunset. The garden glows in golden light, and the panoramic views of Ischia and the Gulf of Naples are simply unforgettable. After dinner, wander the quiet lanes of Anacapri with a limoncello gelato in hand….pure Capri magic!
Jamie’s Suggestions: Sip & Stay
✨ Le Albereta Relais & Châteaux http://www.albereta.it/
✨ Hotel de Russie
https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/hotel-de-russie/
✨ Aman Venice https://www.aman.com/hotels/aman-venice
✨ Belmond Splendido
https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/italy/portofino/belmond-splendido-mare/
✨ Capri Palace Jumeirah https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/italy/capri-palace-jumeirah
Where would you love to sip beneath the olive trees or amidst the roses? ✨ I’d love to hear your dream garden escape, share it with me!
Until next Sunday, may your days be filled with la dolce vita moments, one beautiful glass at a time.
Cin cin,
Jamie 🍋🥂🌿
Petite Wine Traveler ✦ Luxury Wine, Travel & Lifestyle Curator ✦ Certified Wine Educator ✦ Champagne & Wine Specialist ✦ Writer & Presenter ✦ Int’l Wine Judge ✦ Top 50 Most Influential Women in Wine Hospitality