Venissa Wine Resort

Venissa Wine Resort, nestled on the tranquil island of Mazzorbo in the Venetian Lagoon, offers a distinctive escape from the bustling crowds of Venice. Selected by the Michelin Key for its exceptional qualities, this boutique resort is celebrated for its serene atmosphere, acclaimed dining, and dedication to local heritage, particularly its unique winemaking.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Venissa Wine Resort is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "wonderful" to "exceptional". It consistently receives high scores, including a 9.1 rating on Booking.com for its overall experience. Guests laud it as a "lovely and serene spot away from the hordes of tourists" and a "peaceful oasis", highlighting its unique charm and tranquil ambiance. Many consider it a "hidden peaceful paradise" and a "very special place".

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly captivated by several aspects of Venissa Wine Resort:

• Service & Staff: Consistently praised for "exceptional staff and great facilities". Reviews frequently mention "very kind staff" and "amazing staff" who are "very accommodating".
• Location: The idyllic setting on Mazzorbo Island, connected by a bridge to the picturesque Burano, is a major draw. Its seclusion from mainstream Venetian tourism, surrounded by vineyards and gardens, provides a supremely private and relaxing atmosphere.
• Design & Ambiance: The resort, a meticulously restored manor estate, boasts a minimal aesthetic with colors inspired by the lagoon palette. Exposed beams, weathered brick, and wood floors contribute to its tranquil and elegant design.
• Amenities: Highlights include a Michelin-starred restaurant, a more casual osteria, an on-site vineyard with wine tasting experiences, free Wi-Fi, and room service. The resort is also pet-friendly, though charges may apply.

3. Room Quality

Venissa Wine Resort features just five meticulously restored rooms within the old manor house, designed to be a peaceful oasis. The decor embraces a minimal style with fresh nautical pastels and colors reflecting the lagoon. Rooms showcase exposed beams, wood floors, and fine craft and design pieces, aiming to offer a relaxing and restful stay.

Comfort rooms, typically 15-25 sqm, include a queen-size bed, a private en-suite bathroom with a shower, hairdryer, towels, and robes. Modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, a minibar, coffeemaker, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV are provided. However, some guests have noted minor issues like tiny showers in suites, air conditioning that could be more efficient, and in isolated cases, an uncomfortable sofa bed. A few guests also mentioned a lack of tea/coffee making facilities and a limited selection of toiletries in the rooms.

4. Dining Experience

Dining at Venissa is a significant highlight, offering two distinct culinary experiences:

• Ristorante Venissa: This establishment holds both a Michelin Star and a Green Michelin Star, renowned for its "cucina ambientale". The menu is a "love letter to the lagoon," focusing on local ingredients like wild herbs, vegetables from the estate's gardens, and lesser-known fish and seafood, with no meat offerings. Guests can choose between 7- or 9-course tasting menus, complemented by an extensive wine list featuring artisan winemakers.
• Osteria Contemporanea: For a more relaxed setting, the osteria offers traditional Venetian fare with a modern twist, perfect for a casual lunch or dinner.
• Breakfast: The breakfast receives high praise, often described as "fantastic" and "like a still life oil painting," featuring homemade yogurt, home-baked cakes, cheeses, pastries, and eggs. However, there have been some minor complaints about tepid water for tea and occasional inconvenience with breakfast times (typically 8:00-10:00 AM), with one instance of a delayed start.
• Wine: The resort is a working vineyard producing the rare, native Dorona grape, also known as the "Golden Grape," once thought to be extinct. Guests can enjoy wine tasting and vineyard tours, learning about the unique Venetian lagoon terroir. The estate also produces Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Venissa Wine Resort consistently garners exceptional reviews. Guests frequently highlight the staff's professionalism, friendliness, and attentiveness. Phrases like "exceptional staff," "very kind staff," and "amazing staff" appear repeatedly in feedback. The team is noted for being "very accommodating," with one guest specifically mentioning staff waiting for their arrival to begin a tour. This dedicated hospitality significantly contributes to the overall positive guest experience.

6. Location & Accessibility

Venissa Wine Resort is situated on Mazzorbo Island, a tranquil part of the northern Venetian Lagoon. It is conveniently connected to the vibrant island of Burano by a wooden bridge, allowing for a short, pleasant walk to explore its colorful houses and artisan shops.

The resort offers a serene and private atmosphere, away from the typical tourist crowds of central Venice. Accessibility to Venice is via a vaporetto (water bus) stop, located just 100 meters from the property, with a journey of approximately 40 minutes to Venice and 30 minutes to Murano. The resort also offers a boat service for those wishing to travel from Venice or Altino to Mazzorbo Island. It's important to note that the resort does not offer parking, and while communal areas and the formal restaurant are wheelchair accessible, the boat trip to the hotel may not be ideal for wheelchair users.

7. Value & Pricing

Pricing for Venissa Wine Resort typically ranges from approximately $147 to $429 per night, with Expedia showing rates from around £122.78 (approximately $156 USD) for a single night stay. As a Michelin Key Selected property with a Michelin-starred restaurant and unique wine production, it positions itself as a luxury experience. While many guests find the experience well worth the cost, some reviews suggest it can be perceived as "overpriced for what was offered". A combined wine tasting and meal package was highlighted as a "pretty good deal" at 220 Euros per person.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Room Amenities: A few guests have mentioned the absence of in-room tea and coffee making facilities and a limited selection of toiletries.
• Bathroom Size: Some suites reportedly have "tiny showers".
• Air Conditioning: There have been comments that the air conditioning can be old and may not cool the room sufficiently for comfortable sleep.
• Breakfast Issues: Occasional complaints include tepid water for tea at breakfast and breakfast times (8:00-10:00 AM) being inconvenient for early departures, with one instance of a delayed start.
• Value Perception: Despite the overall high satisfaction, a few guests have felt the resort was "overpriced for what was offered".
• Bed Comfort: One review mentioned an uncomfortable sofa bed in their room.

Sources

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