Menti Wines is one of the most thoughtful sustainability driven wineries in the Veneto region. (Kimberly Kephart)
Less than half an hour from Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, tucked into the volcanic hills of Gambellara, sits Menti Wines, a winery that feels like one of those local secrets you only hear about. Menti Wines is one of the most thoughtful sustainability driven wineries in the Veneto region. It is a family-run estate where tradition and environmental stewardship, and patient approach to winemaking guide every decision.
If you are stationed in Vicenza or visiting the area and looking for an easy half-day outing, this is one of the most rewarding ways to get to know the region beyond the usual sights.
The Menti Story begins in the late 1800s, when Giovanni Menti moved to Gambellara and began farming the volcanic hillsides inherited through his wife’s family. He cultivated fruit trees, vegetables, olives and Garganega grapes, the variety that thrives the best in the region’s dark basalt soil. Skills passed down from one generation to the next, and eventually to today’s winemaker Stefano, who represents more than a century of uninterrupted family dedication.
If you are stationed in Vicenza or visiting the area and looking for an easy half-day outing, this is one of the most rewarding ways to get to know the region beyond the usual sights. (kitch (123RF))
The family is a line of farmers who have always worked closely with the land and Stefano continues that legacy in his own way, by leaning into sustainability rather than industrial shortcuts.
This is where Menti stands apart.
While many wineries talk about sustainability, Menti lives it through daily practice. Since 2002, Stefano has guided the estate back to the hands-on, chemical free farming his great grandfather practiced. By 2010, he fully embraced biodynamic agriculture, and the winery achieved organic certification the following year.
Sheep graze between the vines, naturally mowing and fertilizing the fields.
Bees live on the property, not for honey production but simply to strengthen the biodiversity.
Native yeasts handle all fermentations.
“The honey belongs to the bees!”
— Stefano, Menti Winemaker
A detail that I thought was interesting that I had never thought of when it comes to wine: bottle weight. Most wine bottles weigh 450-500 grams. Menti’s weigh around 360 grams and are produced just a few kilometers away. The decision reduces the CO₂ emissions during manufacturing, transportation and recycling. Even the labels use lightweight Italian paper designed to hold up in ice buckets, without compromising sustainability.
None of this is marketing; it is simply how the winery operates: quietly, deliberately and with long-term view of land stewardship.
Menti’s cellar is a working space, concrete tanks from the 1970s line one wall, while older French and Slavonian oak barrels quietly do their work in the corner. As Stefano explains the process, he makes winemaking feel approachable, even for beginners.
Menti’s cellar is a working space, concrete tanks from the 1970s line one wall, while older French and Slavonian oak barrels quietly do their work in the corner. (Kimberly Kephart)
It’s a very “this is how we do it and why it matters” kind of tour. And that’s part of the charm. You get a real sense of patience and attention given to the process and to even the bottle.
Menti’s cellar feels more like a workspace than a tasting venue: concrete tanks from the 1970s, old French and Slavonian barrels and the natural coolness of thick stone walls. The wines ferment slowly, guided only by native yeasts.
Stefano explains each step with calm practicality whether you are a beginner or a wine enthusiast, the process feels clear, approachable and refreshingly uncomplicated.
The most memorable part of the visit is stepping into the 1700s estate drying tower, one of the last of its kind still actively used.
At the end of each summer, grapes destined for Menti’s sweet wine are harvested by hand and hung from beams across the two floors of the tower. For about six months, they slowly dehydrate in the natural airflow, a historic technique known locally as the picaio method.
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The most memorable part of the visit is stepping into the 1700s estate drying tower. (Kimberly Kephart)
The tower itself maintains stable condition without machinery. As the grapes dry, their flavors and sugars naturally intensify. These clusters come from old hillside vineyards planted between the 1930s and 1980s, where volcanic soil gives the fruit, it is mineral backbone.
Once dried, the whole clusters are gently pressed and fermented before aging in old French oak barrels. The final wine is amber-colored, aromatic, and balanced, with notes of honey, peach, candied fruit, toasted almond and herbs. Only a small number of bottles are produced each year, making it one of the winery’s most special productions.
Standing inside the tower, surrounded by rows of suspended grape cluster, adds real dimension to understanding how deeply tradition informs Ment’s wines.
The tasting experience at Menti is warm and very conversational. Depending on your visit and what you may have selected on their website, you may sample.
Riva Arsiglia – A mineral-forward white wine from old Garganega vines.
Paiele – A rounder, food-friendly white with volcanic freshness.
Roncaie sui Lieviti – An unfiltered pet-nat, lively and lightly cloudy.
Monte del Cuca – A structured orange wine made with extended skin contact.
Albina – The sweet wine produced in the 1700s drying tower.
Omomorto – A traditional-method sparkling wine without added dosage. You will want to ask about the name of this one, delightful story behind it!
For those stationed in Vicenza, Menti is an easy and meaningful outing, ideal for anyone curious about natural wine, sustainable farming or simply experiencing a truly local winery.
Drive time: 25-30 Minutes from Vicenza, and even Verona.
Reservations: Required, through their website.
Best time to go: Anytime but October- December to see the drying tower in use.
Purchases: Wine available directly at the tasting.
Atmosphere: Informal, educational, and welcoming to all experience levels.
If you are looking for a winery that focuses on sustainability, tradition and respect for the land, Menti Wines is one of the most special places you can visit near Vicenza.
For those stationed in Vicenza, Menti is an easy and meaningful outing, ideal for anyone curious about natural wine, sustainable farming or simply experiencing a truly local winery. (icefront (123RF))
Source
Kimberly Kephart is a freelance travel writer and content creator based in Vicenza, Italy. She shares practical guides and cultural insights for military families and solo travelers on her blog, Kimberly Kephart Travels.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of War.
