Escape to Villa Bellezza Winery for a taste of Italy in the Midwest. Designed as a small Italian village with its own tasting room, restaurant and cooking school; the villa provides a picturesque setting for any event. Come for the world class wines, stay for the authentic Italian cuisine at Il Forno.

My friend, Nadia Meyer, is sharing a few photos and pages from her travel diary, with tips for an ideal weekend that begins with one of the most scenic road trips in America and leads you to this hidden gem in Pepin, Wisconsin. Let’s go!

We chose one of the most scenic drives in the Midwest, the Great River River Road, which has an abundance of charming small towns and spectacular views of the Mississippi River and Minnesota Bluffs. We made some marvelous memories as we drove 425 miles round trip from Madison to Pepin, Wisconsin. Our final destination was Villa Bellezza, a gorgeous vineyard and winery.

It was hard to believe we were only a few hours from Madison. I truly felt like I was transported to Italy the moment we arrived.

We loved the courtyard seating area, which they refer to as a Piazza, which takes on an almost magical appearance at night. The welcoming staff treated us like family, offering us samples of sparkling white. Our favorite was Brillante-a nice crisp wine with aromas of grapefruit and a tropical taste. It provided the perfecting pairing with a charcuterie board featuring locally made meats and cheeses. We also enjoyed the wood fired pizza in some very unique flavors-pesto smoked salmon was our favorite. Dine in style whether inside or al fresco, where the gardens are in full bloom.

Italian born chef Antonio makes the authentic pizza crusts in-house and he let us in on a little secret-pizza crusts are baked twice (biscotti) to get crisp thin crust pizza with the smokiness that comes from the wood. You really can taste the difference! -Nadia Meyer

I’m so grateful, Nadia shared her road trip story and photos. I can’t wait to sample the wine and the pizza when we visit Villa Bellezza next month. I’ll be sure to post any updates to help you plan your trip, as a major expansion is underway at the property.

Construction is almost complete on a new kitchen center for La Terraza, which will soon be available for dining and open air cooking classes. The staff is celebrating several recent awards, including a “Double Gold” for their Tavola White and was voted one of the top wedding venues in America by both Brides and Wisconsin Bride magazine. Congratulations on all the accolades!

Now back to that scenic drive along Wisconsin State Highway 35, better known as the Great River Road. Buckle up! There’s more to explore!

Discover more on the Great River Road:

Great River Road Wine Trail-Follow the wine trail map to discover nine more wineries along the Great River Road.

Stockholm-Explore the quaint old town peppered with art galleries, cafes and shops.

Nelson-Visit the Nelson Cheese Factory, where you’ll find much more than cheese.. actually a little bit of everything; from ice cream to wine, a full menu to sample all on a lovely patio.

Trempealeau-Elmaro Vineyard and Ecker’s Apple Farm are both worth checking out. Each stop offers a festive atmosphere with live music outdoors.

Meet Nadia

Nadia is an explorer at heart. When she’s not busy running her own business or caring for her family, she’s always up for an adventure. I’m grateful for her friendship and her willingness to share some pages from her travel diary with us. Watch for another story this winter focusing on Nadia’s gift for transforming tattered furniture into works of art.