A Palladian Villa Across the Road, and a Wine Dinner in Vicenza

ABOUT

A dinner reservation with a little Palladio on the side.

Across from Ristorante Sant’Eusebio, in the Vicenza town of Bassano del Grappa, stands Villa Angarano, an estate whose history includes one of the Renaissance architect’s most interesting commissions.

Palladio designed its long agricultural wings in the sixteenth century, while the main residence took shape later, giving the property its unusual combination of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The villa is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto. [1]

At Sant’Eusebio, the other great interest is wine. The restaurant and its adjoining enoteca offer more than 100 labels, with particular attention to the northern Italian producers whose bottles rarely appear on conventional international wine lists.

There are wines matured in amphorae, mountain wines and a collection dedicated to PIWI grapes, varieties bred for resistance to fungal diseases and associated with lower intervention in the vineyard. The restaurant calls this collection its Piwiteca, with wines from producers such as Ca’ da Roman, in Romano d’Ezzelino, also in the province of Vicenza. [2]

The kitchen follows the northern Italian seasons. Spring brings the celebrated white asparagus of Bassano DOP, followed through the year by the pink onions of Bassano, peas from Borso, mushrooms from the Brenta Valley, radicchio and winter vegetables. [3]

There is even a small Japanese connection. In March 2016, the gastronomic magazine Ryori Tsushin introduced its readers to the restaurant, then known as Alla Corte, as an address for the traditional pairing of white asparagus, boiled eggs, olive oil and local Vespaiolo wine. The article includes photographs taken in the restaurant's kitchen. [4]

WHY GO

For a wine dinner in the northern Italian countryside of Vicenza, with Palladio across the road, regional ingredients on the menu and an unusually interesting collection of wines.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Restaurant: Ristorante Sant’Eusebio

Where: Contrà Corte 54, Bassano del Grappa, province of Vicenza, Italy

Phone: +39 0424 502114

Email: info@santeusebio.com

Dining: Dinner, Monday to Saturday, according to the published restaurant schedule. Confirm opening hours when reserving.

Best season for white asparagus: April and May. Ask for the current menu when booking.

Also worth knowing: Villa Angarano offers visits by prior arrangement, if you would like to combine the restaurant with a Palladian villa experience.