Benefits and experiences
I recently read an article about the benefits of living with a dog. Among those listed were the following: – increases and enriches social life – educates children – it helps to be active With love and devotion, our little dog accompanies us for a walk, shares every daily moment with us, and gives us a lot of attention. This shows us that he has a lot of love for us. Unfortunately, however, we can encounter difficulties when we leave for a trip. My friends, for example, wonder who to entrust their pets to when going for trips. Do they leave them with neighbors or relatives?If, on the one hand, a dog keeps us company and gives us joy every day, on the other hand, it becomes a responsibility that many do not want to take on when it comes time to go on vacation. The positive side is that today in Italy, many vacation spots and places accept dogs. One of these places includes wineries.
The four-legged wine tours allow us not to create emotional detachments from our pets. In addition, the presence of a dog helps us keep the children busy during our activities. Moreover, with a dog, you can run and breathe fresh air in the vineyards, benefiting from it.
Since 2008, when I began to cover the role of director of hospitality at the cellar, I have encouraged the welcoming of dogs in the cellar during visits. This is because, at that time, not many tourists used to travel with their four-legged friends. However, this trend has grown a lot over time, as evidenced by many pet-friendly offers in the market today. So, I felt the need to create wine experiences that could accommodate the customer’s pet. The guided tour of the cellar with your dog is a moment that I consider rewarding: it has no extra costs and allows you to enjoy suggestive spaces in good company. Try to imagine discovering the rooms of a barrel cellar together while your guide explains the fermentation of Valpolicella wines! In this new environment, new scents, places, and sensations will be able to involve you both! In addition to the olfactory sensations, you are also giving your pet a moment of great quiet away from city traffic, smog, and above all, from the clamor of the squares that disturbs them so much. In Italy today, many wineries can accommodate your dogs, and here, in Monte del Frà, a space dedicated to them has been created in almost all of our experiences. The summer ones that involve them are, in fact, two:
1. Picnic in the vineyard – the best pet-friendly experience. This experience takes place on the hilltop of our cellar, surrounded by the natural landscapes of the vineyards. If you want to enjoy the picnic with the children, do not leave your dog at home, he has a space here. If, on the other hand, you are a visiting couple, bring your pet along and allow them a moment of relaxation in the vineyards; we will welcome him with a bowl of fresh water!
2. Bike tours. Biking with your dog? Anything is possible as our expert guide is equipped with a bike trailer where your little dog can sit comfortably and enjoy the view. Is this not a beautiful experience? I always use an e-bike for such rides! In addition to the outdoor wine experiences mentioned, the indoor ones also accommodate your dog. From blind to gourmet tasting, your dogs can walk through the cellar rooms with us, pose for the occasional photo and keep you company throughout the tasting. This allows you to benefit, and at the same time, it shows so much love for them.
Last but not least, I must admit that my little dog Francescobel, my inseparable companion during all the cellar tours, loves to interact with other dogs so much. Even customers with less friendly dogs changed their minds and were amazed when they discovered that Francescobel is not only calm and peaceful but can also leave the right space for the other dog. For this reason, I am even happier to welcome people with their dogs: because, in addition to benefiting from the presence of my dog at work every day, Francescobel offers company to other dogs accompanying customers. What can I say? Hurray to guided cellar tours with your puppy! For us, it is never a burden. On the contrary, it facilitates our guided tours, especially if you are accompanied by your children who greatly desire to play. And, just as the article mentioned, it enriches our social life.
Silvia Bonomo – Hospitality Director