Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
Vermentino Vineyard
Geralt accepts Matilda de Vermentino's request to liberate five sabotaged properties tied to Vermentino Vineyard so she can bid on Belgaard Vineyard. He must clear hostile monster infestations, rescue an abducted armorer, and reclaim abandoned sites across the estate. While clearing these problems, he discovers clues pointing toward an outside orchestrator behind the vineyard's misfortunes.
- Region
- Duchy of Toussaint
- Levels
- Level 37–40
- Getting there
- East of Castel Ravello Vineyard along the Sansretour River valley; nearby signposts include Castel Ravello Vineyard, Plegmund's Bridge, and Sansretour Valley.
- Connects to
- Castel Ravello Vineyard, Plegmund's Bridge, Sansretour Valley
- Related quests
- Wine Wars: Belgaard · Wine Wars: Vermentino · Wine Wars: Coronata · Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina · Wine Wars: Consorting · Don't Take Candy from a Stranger
Services and people
Merchants 2
- Armorer · Armorer vendor offering trade and servicesMain estate workshop
- Merchant · Wandering merchant selling goodsRoad between the estate entrance and Plegmund's Bridge
Quest NPCs 1
- Matilda de Vermentino · Estate owner involved in Wine Wars questlinesEstate manor house grounds
Invaders and enemies 2
- Archespores · Hostile creatures infesting the groundsEstate grounds problem sites
- Rotfiends · Hostile necrophages infesting the groundsEstate grounds problem sites
Services 3
- Armorer's Table · Armor upgrade benchNext to the armorer's station at the estate
- Grindstone · Weapon upgrade benchEstate courtyard
- Fast-travel signpost · Fast travelMain estate
The short version
What matters
- •Free the Armorer NPC from the bandit camp near Fox Hollow to unlock a functional craftsman at Vermentino Vineyard.
- •Collect the Letter on elegant stationery northeast of Sansretour Valley to expose Count Crespi's conspiracy.
- •Clear both abandoned sites at Dantan Glade and Pavone Slope to repopulate the region and earn civilian services.
Common mistakes
- •Reporting the five solved problems to Matilda or the Ducal Clerk before reading the Letter on elegant stationery locks you out of Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina.
- •Failing to complete the parallel sabotage investigation in Wine Wars: Coronata prevents Matilda and Liam from forming a joint venture for the Belgaard estate.
- •Staying in close melee range when Rotfiends reach 15–20% health will expose Geralt to their fatal corpse explosions.
Walkthrough
The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.
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1
Clearing the Crossroads
Travel across Plegmund's Bridge to the sunflower fields southwest of the Prophet Lebioda Statue, where a pack of Rotfiends feeds on scattered corpses. Wear Necrophage Oil and whittle them down, dodging back immediately once their backs glow and boil to avoid their explosive detonations. Search the fallen bodies beside the house to pick up Augustin Tonnelliay's journal and the key to chest in sunflower fields.
Key fight: Rotfiends (Crossroads)Tip: Keep Quen active and let retreating, exploding Rotfiends damage their own pack members.
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2
Liberating Dantan Glade
Head to the abandoned site northeast of Fort Astre Ruins to find Dantan Glade overrun by Archespores. Burn them using Igni bursts and Cursed Oil while dodging their toxic spit and exploding pods to trigger a cutscene that returns civilian life to the settlement. Search the liberated area to find cart letters left inside the local carts and remains.
Key fight: Archespores (Plant Infestations)Tip: Superior Golden Oriole negates the poison damage dealt by spit attacks.
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3
Rescuing the Captured Armorer
Travel west of Fox Hollow near the Herbalist’s Hut to discover a cottage bandit encampment where three armed thugs hold a captive craftsman. Use Axii to bypass their shields or counter their heavy swings before executing them with Hanged Man's Venom. Free the Armorer NPC from his captivity, choosing either to fast-travel back with him or let him walk to Vermentino Vineyard on his own.
Key fight: Human Bandits (Armorer Rescue)Tip: Axii leaves shielded foes wide open for lethal sword executions.
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4
Reclaiming Pavone Slope
Ride to Pavone Slope on the south shore of Lac Célavy, which serves as an abandoned site infested by an Archespore. Close the distance quickly with Quen active, staying clear of detonating flower bulbs while setting the plant ablaze with Igni. Once the beast dies and civilian life is restored, loot the carts and remains around the settlement for additional cart letters.
Key fight: Archespores (Plant Infestations)Tip: Superior Northern Wind bombs can freeze the plant before it retreats underground.
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5
Uncovering the Sabotage at the Guarded Treasure
Head northeast from the Sansretour Valley signpost to locate two Archespores guarding corpses beside a cart and chest. Slay both creatures with Igni and Cursed Oil, then search the dead body to obtain a Heavy brass key alongside a Letter on elegant stationery. Read this letter immediately to discover Count Crespi's sabotage plot, unlocking the quest Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina rather than heading straight to the Ducal Clerk.
Key fight: Archespores (Plant Infestations)Tip: Apply Cursed Oil before approaching the cart to burst down both Archespores quickly.
Watch out: Do not report your completed tasks to Matilda or the Ducal Clerk yet, or you will permanently lock out the conspiracy questline and the joint venture alliance.
Choices here
What you decide here and what it leads to.
Reporting Solved Tasks Immediately vs. Investigating Sabotage
After resolving all five Vermentino vineyard issues
- Report Solved Tasks Immediately to Matilda or the Clerk→ Matilda de Vermentino wins the Belgaard auction alone, Liam is left impoverished, Coronata falls into ruin, and you miss both the conspiracy quest "The Deus in the Machina" and the joint vineyard alliance
- Investigate the Sabotage by reading the Letter on Elegant Stationery without turning in the quest→ Unlocks "Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina", uncovers Count Crespi's plot against both owners, and opens the path to a joint partnership between Liam and Matilda with combined wine and top rewards
Most players pick: Investigate the Sabotage
Point of no return: turning in the tasks to Matilda or the Ducal Clerk before reading the letter locks you out of the joint-ownership ending and the conspiracy questline
Checklists
Items
0/6
Secrets
0/1
Key fights
Enemies: Archespores
Threats: Spits corrosive/poisonous projectiles at range, retreats underground when struck, and detonates dangerous explosive bulb pods when defeated or enraged.
Weaknesses and resistances: Igni, Cursed Oil, Superior Golden Oriole, Superior Northern Wind / Grapeshot
Tactics: Keep Quen up, close distance quickly, avoid standing near exploding pod flowers, and burn them down with Igni bursts.
Rewards: Archespore Tendril, Archespore Juice, infused spores, monster parts
Enemies: Rotfiends
Threats: Attack in packs; upon reaching ~15–20% health, their bodies swell and detonate in a lethal corpse explosion.
Weaknesses and resistances: Aard, Quen, Necrophage Oil
Tactics: Whittle their health down; once their backs begin to glow and boil, dodge backward immediately to catch other enemies in the blast radius.
Rewards: Rotfiend Blood, monster teeth/bones
Enemies: Three armed bandits
Threats: Standard melee bandits using parries, shields, and heavy swings.
Weaknesses and resistances: Axii, Aard, Hanged Man's Venom
Tactics: Parry counterattacks or bypass shields using Axii; execute while stunned.
Rewards: Common steel weapons, minor coin, crafting cloth/leather
Enemies
detonates upon reaching low health, inflicting severe area-of-effect damage unless eliminated with a finisher
burrowing plant creature that spits venom and creates explosive pod traps
Shops and people
- Armorer: crafting and repairs after being freed from bandits during the Person in Distress objective and returning to Vermentino
Tips
- Do not report back to Matilda immediately upon finishing her vineyard tasks; inspect both Vermentino and Coronata to uncover the conspiracy and unlock the cooperative ending for the rival estates.
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