Toast La Befana in Venice: Epiphany traditions and Dorona wines
If your New Year’s resolutions already need a tune-up, Italy has a seasonal reset button: La Befana. The Epiphany (January 6) is the unofficial last call for winter festivities—and in Venice, it comes with a witchy boat race and a perfect excuse to pour something distinctly lagoon-born. Susannah at Avvinare drops a timely reminder: “January 6th is the Feast of the Epiphany.” —Susannah, Avvinare
Consider this your friendly nudge to celebrate like a Venetian—leaning into tradition, water, and a glass that tastes like sea breeze without the sand in your shoes.
Style snapshot: Dorona, the lagoon’s rare white
When Susannah reminisces about Venice, she zeroes in on Venissa, the island winery that revived Dorona, an indigenous Venetian grape rescued from near extinction. This isn’t a tasting note; it’s common knowledge among Italian wine nerds and the curious travelers who make the short hop to Mazzorbo. Dorona is typically vinified dry, often medium-bodied, and known for a mineral, saline character that mirrors its brackish backyard. Expect more savory tension than fruit fireworks—think texture, quiet power, and food-loving acidity.
Regionally, you’re in the Veneto, but Dorona’s story is hyper-local: vines growing within the Venetian lagoon, sometimes flirting with saltwater intrusion. That setting shapes the wine’s vibe. If SoCal surf had a white-wine cousin, it’d be Dorona—salt-kissed, calm on the surface, energetic underneath.
Best occasion: Epiphany dinner, a post-holiday reset with friends, or any winter evening when you want contemplative conversation over clinking glasses.
Best pairing direction: Keep it elemental: simply grilled or poached seafood, briny accents (olives, capers), and aged hard cheeses. Umami is your friend.
Tradition meets travel: Venice’s witchy regatta
La Befana is Italy’s good-witch folklore in action: a kindly crone who doles out coal to the naughty and candy to the nice on Epiphany Eve. Venice puts its own spin on it with a regatta where rowers dress as old witches and race along the Grand Canal, aiming for a giant stocking hung from the Rialto Bridge. It’s delightfully bonkers and exactly the energy you need to shake off the holiday hangover.
Susannah’s Venice affection runs deep, and so does her advice: “Do not miss out on a visit to the winery on your next trip to that amazing city.” —Susannah, Avvinare. If you’re plotting a winter escape, Venice in January is calmer, moodier, and better for actual strolling (or, you know, vaporetto-hopping) between sips. Book ahead at Venissa for a vineyard walk if weather cooperates, then taste through their Dorona to understand how place can be both postcard and palate note.
Why this matters now
The Epiphany historically marked the gift-giving moment in parts of Italy, timed to the Magi. Even as modern Christmas has shifted habits, the day still caps the season with meaning. In Spain, it’s Three Kings Day; in Venice, it’s performance art by oar. The throughline is simple: gather, reset, and toast to what’s next.
From a wine lens, Dorona offers a refreshing counterpoint to Veneto’s usual suspects. It’s neither Prosecco’s pop nor Soave’s easy glide; it’s deeper, salt-etched, and perfect for winter tables where comfort food meets coastal flavor. If you love Chardonnay for its texture or Pinot Grigio for its clarity, Dorona sits somewhere sideways to both—more savory than plush, more structure than sprint.
One more thing to love about this timing: honoring La Befana gives you permission to start the year gently. Make a plan, then let it breathe. Open something thoughtful. And if your resolution was to explore beyond the usual suspects, a Venetian lagoon white is a pretty elegant first step.
Closing takeaway
Mark the Epiphany with a glass that speaks fluent Venice. Seek out Dorona from Venissa if you can find it, or keep the spirit with a dry, mineral-driven Venetian white. Celebrate the lore, watch the witches race, and lean into that end-of-holiday clarity. As Susannah reminds us, the season turns—and it’s back to the real world tomorrow. That’s all the more reason to toast today.
Key Takeaways
- Key themes: La Befana, Venice wine, Dorona—stay informed on these evolving trends.
- The takeaway? Keep exploring, keep tasting, and don’t be afraid to try something new.
