Verona: Horseback Riding and Wine Tasting Experience

Leave the city behind for four quiet hours. This small-group outing pairs horseback riding through Custoza vineyards with a visit to a family-run winery, giving you two very different ways to enjoy the Verona countryside. You help prepare your horse, learn the basics, ride toward the Custoza hills, then sit down with local wine, cheese, and salami.

I like the personal scale of the experience, with no more than six participants, and I like the simple connection between the ride and the wine tasting. You see the vineyards from horseback, then taste what the nearby soil produces. The main consideration is that the activity depends on good weather, and the published timing needs a quick check because the overall duration is listed as four hours while parts of the schedule add up to longer.

This is not a fast trail ride or a formal wine course. It is a relaxed country outing with horses, views, a cellar, and a generous tasting stop. The price is $186.92 per person, so it makes most sense if you value a small group and several connected activities rather than just a short ride.

Key points at a glance

• Horse matching and basic instruction: Each rider is paired with a horse based on height, weight, and riding experience.
• A hands-on start: You help with horse preparation and saddling before setting off.
• Custoza vineyard route: The ride heads through vineyards toward the hills of Custoza.
• Three styles of local wine: The tasting includes white, rosé, and red wines.
• Food with the wine: Homemade cheese and salami give the tasting a proper regional snack rather than a token pour.
• A gentle finish with the horse: After riding, you can brush your horse and offer it a snack.

Why Custoza makes a good countryside escape

Verona is famous for its Roman arena, old streets, and Shakespeare associations. That makes it easy to spend your whole visit in town. This experience gives you a reason to see the nearby Veneto countryside, where vineyards and low hills replace stone lanes and city traffic.

Custoza is especially suited to an outing that combines riding and wine. The route takes you through vineyards and up toward the Custoza hills, so the scenery is part of the activity, not just something you glimpse from a vehicle. You get time to notice the countryside at a horse’s pace.

I also like the connection between the two parts. The wine tasting is not an unrelated stop added to fill an afternoon. You ride among vineyards, then visit a local producer and taste several wines made in the area. That gives the tasting a clear sense of place.

The setting should appeal most to you if you want a slower day outside Verona. It is less suitable if you want an athletic horseback excursion, a long technical ride, or a tightly scheduled sightseeing tour with many stops.

Meeting the horses and getting ready

The experience begins at the designated meeting point associated with Verona In Tour. The exact meeting location is sent by email before your arrival, so check your messages carefully and do not rely only on a general map pin. The activity returns to the meeting point at the end.

The first stage is practical and useful. You meet the horses, help with preparation, and assist with saddling. That small task changes the feel of the outing. Instead of being placed on a horse with no explanation, you get an introduction to the animal and the equipment before riding.

A basic lesson follows. Each rider is matched with a trail horse according to height, weight, and riding experience. That matching process matters, especially for beginners. A horse that suits your size and comfort level can make the difference between enjoying the countryside and spending the whole ride worrying about balance.

The supplied information does not give a minimum riding age, weight limit, or required experience level. If any of those details affect your plans, ask the operator before booking. The activity is designed to accommodate different experience levels, but you should still describe your riding background accurately.

Wear long pants. They are specifically required, and they are also the practical choice for time in the saddle. The available information does not list other required clothing or footwear, so ask about shoes if you are unsure. Do not bring alcohol or drugs to the activity.

Riding for about an hour through the vineyards

The actual ride takes you through the Custoza vineyard area and toward the hill. The main description calls it about 60 minutes, while the itinerary also lists a 1.5-hour horseback riding segment. A second 1.5-hour riding entry appears after the wine tasting. Since those figures do not match the stated four-hour duration, confirm the exact riding and tasting schedule when you book.

That timing question is worth asking, but it should not obscure the appeal of the route. The ride is meant to be scenic and accessible, not a test of advanced horsemanship. You move through the vineyards and see the green countryside from a low, unhurried viewpoint.

You should expect the guide to remain involved, especially during the initial lesson and horse preparation. The tour is led in English or Italian, and the group is limited to six participants. That is a strong advantage over a large riding group, where instruction can feel rushed and the pace may be less comfortable.

A small group also makes horse matching more practical. The guide has fewer riders to monitor and can pay closer attention to how each person handles the horse. Still, riding is an outdoor activity with natural limits. You should be comfortable spending time around horses and accept that the pace and route are shaped by the animals and the weather.

The views toward the Custoza hills are a major reason to choose this outing. You are not simply riding in an enclosed arena. The route takes you into open vineyard country, where the scenery changes gradually and the ride feels connected to the place.

The family winery and its old barrels

After the ride, the experience moves into the wine portion at a family-run winery. The visit includes a look inside the cellar, where old barrels provide the atmosphere and the guide explains winemaking techniques.

This part adds useful context to the tasting. You are not only handed a glass and told a wine name. You get a basic sense of how the producer works and why the cellar matters. The information provided does not specify the winery’s name or the exact production methods, so do not expect a formal technical lecture. Think of it as an approachable introduction linked to the wines in front of you.

The winery setting should suit you if you enjoy seeing small-scale food and drink production up close. It also gives the afternoon a welcome change of pace. After time outdoors, you can sit down, take in the countryside views, and focus on the tasting.

The scenery is part of the stop, too. The winery offers views over the green countryside, so you are still connected to the setting rather than spending the entire visit indoors. That mix of cellar, glasses, and open views makes the stop feel more substantial than a quick tasting counter.

Tasting Custoza white, rosé, and red wines

The tasting includes a selection of the winery’s most produced wines: white, rosé, and red. This range gives you a broad introduction rather than focusing on a single bottle or style.

Custoza is known primarily as a local white wine area, so the white tasting is likely to be the natural focus of the visit. However, the experience also includes rosé and red wines, giving you a wider sample of what the winery produces. Since no specific labels or vintages are listed, you should treat the tasting as an introduction to the producer rather than a promise of particular bottles.

The food pairing is homemade cheese and salami. I consider that an important part of the value. Wine tastes better when you have something substantial to eat, and local salami and cheese make the stop feel tied to ordinary Veneto hospitality rather than a polished commercial tasting room.

The food also helps pace the afternoon. You have been riding before the tasting, so a few small bites are welcome. The supplied information does not say how much food is served, so do not assume it replaces a full lunch. If you need a full meal, plan accordingly around the activity.

You can expect the tasting to be social and relaxed. With a maximum of six people, there is room to ask questions and compare impressions without the noise of a large group. The guide speaks English and Italian, which helps if you want explanations in English.

Brushing the horse after the ride

One of the nicest details comes at the end. After riding, you can brush your horse and give it a snack.

That final step gives the outing a proper close. You are not simply finished the moment you dismount. Brushing the horse lets you slow down, spend a little more time with the animal, and take part in a basic piece of horse care.

For a first-time rider, this can be as memorable as the ride itself. It gives you a chance to become more comfortable around the horse after the formal instruction is over. If you already ride, you may appreciate the chance to finish with a familiar stable routine.

The information does not specify the snack or how long this final contact lasts. Consider it a pleasant included detail, not a separate animal-care workshop.

What the $186.92 price really covers

At $186.92 per person, this is not a budget activity. The price includes the guide, horseback riding, wine tasting, cheese and salami, and insurance. It also covers a four-hour experience with a small group limited to six people.

The value depends on what you would otherwise book separately. A short riding session, winery visit, food tasting, and guide could easily become several separate arrangements. Here, those pieces are joined into one afternoon, with the added benefit of a preselected horse and a guided countryside route.

The price is easier to justify if you want a special occasion activity or if riding and wine are both high on your list. It is harder to justify if you are mainly looking for a cheap way to see vineyards. In that case, a simple countryside walk or independent winery visit would cost less, though it would not provide the horse, instruction, or small-group support.

Insurance is included, which is useful for an activity involving horses. You should still read the booking terms and provide honest information about your riding experience and any concerns before the outing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Verona schedule is still shifting. Since the tour does not operate in bad weather, keep your plans flexible and check the forecast.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this outing to you if you meet several of these conditions:

• You want time in the countryside rather than another city tour.
• You enjoy horses but do not need an advanced riding challenge.
• You like wine tasting in a small, informal setting.
• You value a family-run winery and local food.
• You prefer a group of six or fewer.
• You can wear long pants and are comfortable with an outdoor activity.

It may not suit you if you use a wheelchair, since the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also a poor choice if rain is likely, because the tour will not operate in bad weather.

If you have little or no riding experience, the basic lesson and horse matching are reassuring features. If you are an experienced rider looking for speed, jumping, or a long trail, the stated one-hour ride and gentle vineyard focus may feel too limited.

Families should check age requirements before booking, since no minimum age is provided. The same applies to any riding restrictions that matter to your group.

Timing details worth confirming before you pay

There is a small inconsistency in the published schedule. The overall activity lasts four hours, while the stop-by-stop plan lists horseback riding for 1.5 hours, wine and food tasting for 1.5 hours, and another horseback riding segment for 1.5 hours. The main description, by contrast, says the ride lasts about 60 minutes.

Ask the operator to confirm:

• The total time spent on horseback
• Whether the ride takes place in one section or two
• The exact start time
• The precise meeting location
• Whether the food served is a snack or enough for a light meal

These questions are especially useful if you have a train, dinner reservation, or another Verona activity afterward. The start time varies by availability, and the exact meeting point arrives by email before your arrival.

Should you book the Custoza horseback and wine tour?

Book it if you want a small, personal outing that combines a gentle ride, vineyard views, and a genuine local tasting. The family winery, three wine styles, homemade cheese and salami, and time to brush the horse give the four-hour experience more substance than a quick photo stop.

I would skip it if you need guaranteed operation in poor weather, use a wheelchair, or want a demanding riding adventure. I would also confirm the schedule before committing, since the listed ride times do not fully match the four-hour duration.

For the right visitor, the appeal is clear: you leave Verona’s busy center, meet a horse suited to you, ride toward the Custoza hills, and finish with wine made close to the vineyards you just crossed. At $186.92, it is a splurge, but a sensible one if you want a memorable countryside day rather than another standard city excursion.

FAQ

Where does the horseback riding and wine tasting experience take place?

The activity takes place in the Veneto region near Verona, with the riding and winery visit in Custoza.

How long does the experience last?

The experience is listed as four hours. The activity details also describe about 60 minutes of riding, while the stop schedule lists longer riding segments, so confirm the exact timing before booking.

What wines are included in the tasting?

The tasting includes a selection of white, rosé, and red wines produced by the family-run winery.

What food is served with the wine?

The tasting includes homemade cheese and salami.

Is riding experience required?

A basic horse lesson is provided, and each rider is matched with a trail horse based on height, weight, and experience level.

What should I bring?

You should bring and wear long pants.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour will not take place in bad weather conditions. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.