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On the afternoon of Friday, March 13, 2026, Borgo Bardolino hosted the official ceremony for the presentation of the Global Best of Wine Tourism 2026 to Rambaldi Apartments, the most important international recognition dedicated to excellence in wine tourism, awarded by the global network Great Wine Capitals.
The award was presented to Agostino Rizzardi, CEO of Rambaldi Apartments and Guerrieri Rizzardi, by Paolo Arena, President of the Verona Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Daniele Bertasi, Mayor of Bardolino, the President of the Tourism section of Confcommercio and members of the local jury of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards.
The institutional delegation was welcomed inside Borgo Bardolino, the complex created through the restoration of the historic Guerrieri Rizzardi wineries in the heart of the town, between the medieval walls and the shores of Lake Garda.
Here, former production spaces have been transformed into a harmonious system of courtyards and residences that today host the 53 apartments of Rambaldi Apartments, where historic architecture meets contemporary comfort.
An international recognition for wine tourism
The Global Best of Wine Tourism 2026, awarded last November in Bordeaux during the annual conference of the Great Wine Capitals network, represents the highest level of the international competition dedicated to wine tourism.
Rambaldi Apartments obtained this recognition after winning the Best of Wine Tourism Awards Verona 2026 in the Accommodation category. This result allowed it to compete at a global level and to be selected as the best wine tourism project among the winners of the eleven world wine capitals.
Agostino Rizzardi: “An award we share with the territory”
“Receiving the Global Best of Wine Tourism, among eleven world wine capitals, is a great honour and a recognition of the work and vision of our team,” commented Agostino Rizzardi.
“Rambaldi Apartments was born from the desire to give new life to the historic spaces of our winery in Bardolino, transforming them into a place capable of telling the agricultural history of our family and our people, as well as our idea of hospitality. We share this recognition with the territory of Bardolino, which continues to stand out worldwide for its wine culture and for its ability to welcome guests with authenticity.”
The value for the territory
During the ceremony, Daniele Bertasi, Mayor of Bardolino, recalled the connection between this corner of the town and the history of the local community:
“I knew this place when it was still the operational winery of the Rizzardi family in the heart of the village. Seeing it today transformed into such a prestigious hospitality project says a great deal about the role this family has played over time as an interpreter and pioneer of the transformations of the territory.”
The Mayor also highlighted how the recognition strengthens the cultural identity of the destination at a time when Bardolino and Lake Garda are candidates for Italian Capital of Culture 2029.
Paolo Arena, President of the Verona Chamber of Commerce, also emphasised the international value of the award:
“Since 2016 Verona has been part of the Great Wine Capitals network, which brings together eleven world wine capitals. The recognition obtained by Rambaldi Apartments is a source of pride not only for the Veronese territory but for the entire Italian wine system, capable of expressing excellence not only in production but also in hospitality and lifestyle.”
Rambaldi Apartments and Guerrieri Rizzardi
The history of Rambaldi Apartments is deeply connected to that of Guerrieri Rizzardi, the historic Veronese winery whose ancient cellars once stood next to Palazzo Guerrieri, in the centre of Bardolino.
With the construction of the new Guerrieri Rizzardi production winery in the industrial area of Bardolino, completed in 2012, the historic spaces in the town centre were restored to create Borgo Bardolino.
Within this complex stands Rambaldi Apartments, a scattered hospitality residence made up of 53 apartments distributed across buildings from different historical periods — former barrel cellars, artisan workshops, lemon houses and administrative buildings from the time of the Serenissima — carefully restored and equipped with contemporary comforts.
The presentation of the Global Best of Wine Tourism 2026 therefore confirms the ability of the Veronese territory to combine wine, history and hospitality in a model of wine tourism recognised internationally.
