The tricoloured flag of flavours

39 KM
distance
difficulty
30% paved – 70% dirt tracks
Road surface
MOUNTAIN BIKE
Type of bicycle

Route

Green, white and red are the colours of the Italian flag. These are also the colours of three typical products of this area, for which our country is famous world-wide: wine and oil.

Green is the colour of the olive groves and the Garda PDO extra virgin olive oil. Back in the days of the ancient Romans, olive trees were already being cultivated near Verona, along the shores of Lake Garda: the so-called “Olive tree Riviera” is the ideal habitat for this plant species. White is the colour of Custoza DOC wine. The production area of this superb white wine goes from the moraine hills of Castelnovo del Garda, south of the Lake, to the outskirts of Verona.

Red is the colour of Bardolino DOC, a wine of very ancient origin. The trail and its slopes are not particularly gruelling, but its length and the abundance of dirt-tracks require a reasonable degree of fitness. The start is in Bardolino: a short stretch of uphill road leads to the panoramic route passing in front of the Wine Museum.

From here, you head towards Cavaion Veronese, on a lane winding its way through the vineyards and olive groves that are so typical of the Bardolino hills, until you reach the Fratelli Turri olive mill. You then head towards Calmasino, and a gentle climb takes you behind the Parish Church. After crossing over the road to Lake Garda, narrow lanes take you across an expanse of olive groves to a paved, but quiet road near Lazise.

From here on, the route continues along dirt tracks in and out of more olive orchards. Once you reach the Borgo Mondragon resort (www.borgomondragon.com), you cross over the Verona-Lago road and return onto another dirt track. This leads to the hamlet of Colà and the first of the surrounding moraine hills, on the boundaries of the Custoza wine production area. The next stop is Castelnuovo del Garda, a charming village of ancient origin.

The route continues north, and after cycling through the centre of the neighbouring hamlet of Sandrà, you will find yourself once again surrounded by vineyards. A level dirt track brings you back to the Bardolino DOC production area. Narrow lanes and paths lead to the hills overlooking Lazise and from there to the outskirts of Calmasino, near the Tenuta Preella Lamberti  winery. Shortly afterwards, you are back in Bardolino.