Dimora Buglioni: An Amazing Stay in the Valpolicella Vineyards of Italy

I love Dimora Buglioni!

I think it’s one of the best places to stay in the Valpolicella wine region of Italy.

This boutique hotel, is called an agrirelais.

Basically it’s a bit of an agriturismo (farm stay) and hotel (relais) rolled into one.

Dimora Buglionio is in the middle of the vineyards and is owned by the Buglioni Winery so it fits the agriturismo style.

But it also has boutique hotel features — beautiful rooms, a full breakfast and a staff available to assist you during the day hours.

I first stayed here in 2014 — 2 times along my 7 week journey.

Then I ended up back here for 1 quick night in 2019.

I don’t return to places unless they really mean something to me.

And this lovely boutique hotel in Valpolicella, definitely captures my heart.

Let’s start with the basics.

 

 

Where is Dimora Buglioni?

Dimora Buglioni is located just 3km from the village of San Pietro in Cariano in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

This area, just 20km or so from Verona, is the Valpolicella wine region.

The Valpolicella wine region is known for its wine of the same name as well as the Valpolicella Ripasso and the big, bold Amarone.

And let’s not forget Recioto, a sweet dessert wine.

This destination is also close to Lago di Garda, Lake Garda.

It’s gorgeous with vineyards in the valleys surrounded by hills, bigger mountains looming off in the distance.

The wines are delicious!

Dimora Buglioni is located on a dirt/gravel road and is surrounded by vineyards.

So a car is essential.

But you can walk to a couple neighboring wineries and you can walk to San Pietro in Cariano during daylight hours.

The location really is sublime.

 

The rooms

I love the rooms at Dimora Buglioni.

They are simple yet elegant and are pretty big.

You’ll have a wardrobe and a dresser to use so you can unpack and be at home.

And the rooms have desks which is a must for a digital nomad like me.

I love the ceramic tile, wood beams and exposed stone and brick.

It’s a rustic style that suits the location in the middle of the vineyards.

The bathrooms are a good size with fluffy towels and top notch toiletries.

It’s Italy so there is a bidet.

The rooms have air conditioning so you won’t get too hot in summer.

But I love being able to open the windows and let the fresh air in when the weather allows.

And you’ll always have a view over the vineyards!

 

The breakfast

Tasty.

Plentiful.

And something for everyone!

You can have fruit, breads, croissants, sweet cakes, eggs, cereal and yogurt.

Juices, tea, coffee (cappuccino, americano, cafe latte, etc) and water are available.

And in nice weather, you get to sit out on the patio.

However, the breakfast room is quite lovely too so if you have to sit inside, it’s not the end of the world.

And epic fail — I forgot to get photos! 🤦‍♀️

So I’ll share another image of the view from my room.

 

The features of Dimora Buglioni

Dimora Buglioni has a beautiful sitting area as well.

It’s a great place to sit and enjoy a cup of afternoon tea or a glass of delicious Buglioni wine.

I love the big kitchen area.

You can use a plate, a glass or some utensils should want to have a glass of wine and a snack and sit on the patio.

There’s a water dispenser here which I love as I’m a firm believer in bringing my own water bottle and refilling it — which I did often!

The patio which I mentioned above, is a wonderful spot for taking in the scenery of the vineyards, perhaps soaking up some sun.

There are tables and chairs as well as lounge chairs.

I’ve seen folks sitting out here in the mornings, afternoons and even late into the evenings — having some tasty wine, of course. 😉

The patio is definitely one of the best features of Dimora Buglioni.

It’s a great place to make new friends! 😊

One of the other aspects that I like about this agrirelais is that you have to use your keycard to have the lights on AND they have auto sensor lights in the hallways.

This saves on electricity and is kinder to the environment.

Bravo!

 

The surrounding area

The area around Dimora Buglioni is beautiful.

San Pietro in Cariano is the closest village at 3km.

There are vineyards all around including a few other wineries that are within walking distance.

Sant’ Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Fumane, and San Giorgio di Valpolicella are all nearby towns that you can visit — by car or by bicycle.

But mostly it’s about the vineyards.

While the towns have some charm, they’re über small.

My favorite thing is to take a walk or a run along the rural roads, taking in the vineyards, hills and mountains off in the distance.

And tasting wine, of course!

 

Locanda del Bugiardo

What makes Dimora Buglioni one of the best places to stay in Valpolicella is its Locanda.

What is this?

A locanda is defined as an inn.

In this case it’s an osteria, meaning a bistro or tavern.

I’d call Locanda Buglioni more of a restaurant that just happens to be part of Dimora del Bugiardo and happens to be sitting in the middle of the vineyards — which are all part of the Buglioni Winery.

Whew!

First, I will say that Buglioni has some amazing wines.

Their line of reds — from the Valpolicella Classico up to their Amarone Riserva (and all the wines in between) — are fabulous.

On this last trip I tried the Brut Bianco, a sparkling wine.

Yum!

I’ve heard the Brut Rosè — which I was tempted to try — is just as good as the Bianco.

So they have bubbly! Yay!

The food at Locanda Buglioni matches the wines — more deliciousness!

There is an emphasis on fresh, local food made in the Veronese style.

Verona is just 20km away!

I’ve eaten here twice, once back in 2014 and again in 2019 and I had fantastic pasta dishes both times.

You can do a tasting menu for a set price where they bring out a dish and pair the wine with it.

Bring your appetite!

And the great thing is the Locanda is just a short walk down the gravel road from the Dimora.

So….if you have a bit too much wine, you’re just a short walk from your bed!

 

The staff at Dimora Buglioni

Lastly, I want to say that the staff at Dimora Buglioni are wonderful.

They are welcoming, friendly and helpful.

On my first visit, Melissa and Silvia were the 2 lovely ladies that ran this agrirelais — and they managed it well.

They helped me out with directions, making a reservation at the Locanda and with questions I had.

Now it is Melissa and Jlenia as Silvia has left.

Melissa remembered me, so we were chatting like old friends.

I met Piera who helps out with cleaning at Dimora del Bugiardo.

She and I hit it off immediately — so warm and friendly.

And I was honored to meet Mariano Bulgioni, one of the family that runs the winery.

Such a nice man.

But I’ve found so many friendly folks in this part of Italy.

Which is probably one of the main reasons I keep going back.

 

 

So if you’re heading to the Veneto region of Northern Italy, be sure to spend some time the Valpolicella wine region.

And when you do, be sure to spend a couple of nights at Dimora Buglioni.

It’s one of the best places to stay in Valpolicella — without a doubt!

 

This is part of a series I call Charming Places — a series in which I talk about the places I stay. From B&B’s, hotels and guesthouses to apartments and farm stays, I’ll give my honest thoughts on these spaces. I’ve found that the accommodation I choose to stay often directly affects how I feel about a particular destination. And how I connect with that location and its people. So I want to share these places with you by dishing out a bit of info and some of my opinions.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Dimora del Bugiardo on this recent stay so my stay was discounted. However all opinions are my own.