Wines

Few people know it, but the hills around Varese and Lake Maggiore have been making wine for centuries. The bottles are small-production and rarely leave the province: drink them here.

Azienda Agricola Cascina Piano — In Angera, on Lake Maggiore. Wine-makers for generations, and their tastings are worth booking. Make a day of it: the Rocca di Angera, a swim at the Guree beach, and the Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso, a hermitage clinging to the cliff over the lake. Beautiful.

Rubino Spiriti — Right here in Casbeno. Not wine, strictly speaking, but we could not leave them out: their organic vermouth Duetuffi is one of our favourite bottles, full stop. Get in touch before you go.