Italy's Northern Wine Country: Fine Wines, Food and Incredible Landscapes in Piedmont, Cinque Terre and Tuscany (Personalized Experiences)

Your tour officially begins at 2 pm in the hotel lobby or outside on the patio, depending on the weather. Here, you will meet your tour escort and get to know your fellow travelers over coffee.

The afternoon will continue with a walking tour of Turin with a local guide. Learn about the history of this beautiful city, which was once the capital of various kingdoms, and see some of the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy, which are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

The tour will end with dinner in the heart of the city, a short walk from the hotel.

Overnight at the Grant Hotel Sitea, Turin*

*The tour includes shared accommodation in a double or twin room. Single supplements and optional upgrades are available.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will leave Turin to go to the Langhe wine region.  Here, you will discover two of the region's most famous wine-producing areas: Barolo and Barbaresco.

Both wines are produced from Nebbiolo, a grape native to the Piedmont region. High in tannins, Nebbiolo wines are traditionally aged for years until they soften, revealing the other flavors for which they are revered.

Before arriving in Barolo, you will drive through the beautiful hillsides where Nebbiolo grapes are bathed in just the right sunshine for Barolo production. In the town, you will visit the Marchesi di Barolo winery, where you will visit the historic cellars and learn about producing Barolo wine. You will also taste Barolo DOCG, Barolo DOCG Riserva, Dolcetto di Alba DOC, Moscato d’Asti DOGC, and Asti Spumante DOC, along with traditional products of the area.

Next, you will visit one of Italy’s many family-run vineyards, where the Marrone family will warmly welcome you. From the terrace, you will enjoy beautiful views over the Barolo Valley while tasting different wines, local cheeses, meats, and typical snacks.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the Relais San Maurizio, where you will stay for the next two nights.  You will have some time to relax and enjoy the spa before dinner at the San Maurizio Bistrot on the property.

Overnight at the Relais San Maurizio*. 

*The tour includes shared accommodation in a double or twin room. Single supplements and optional upgrades are available.

Today, we will dedicate ourselves to the Barbara wine region.  Barbera grapes are found throughout Italy, from northern Piedmont down to Sicily.  Barbara blends, the best of which are said to come from the limestone slopes you will visit today, range from light and fruity to more intense, aged wines.

The first stop will be at Coppo winery, where the Coppo family has been making wine since 1892. The morning's highlight will undoubtedly be the visit to the cellars, which extend over 5000 square meters and are up to 40m deep. These ‘underground cathedrals’ are so unique that they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014.  The tour will conclude with a tasting of 3 riserva wines: a Barbera d’Asti, a Chardonnay, Riserva Coppo (spumante) and the sweet, sparkling Moscato d’Asti DOCG.

Following the wine tasting, there will be a stop in the town of Asti. You will have some free time to explore the town and have lunch before meeting the group again.

The next visit will be to the Marchesi Alfieri winery. Home to the wine-producing Alfieri Family since 1696, the estate is centered around the historic 17th-century castle. You will tour the gardens, orangery, castle, and cellars before tasting some wines, including the award-winning Barbara d’Asti, Barbara d’Asti Superiore, and the sparkling Blanc de Noir.

Returning to the Relais San Maurizio, you will have time to enjoy the spa and swimming pool in the afternoon before dinner at a local pizzeria.

Overnight at Relais San Maurizio

This morning, we bid farewell to the Alba hills as the tour headed south towards the narrow region of Liguria.

To break the journey, there will be a stop in Gavi and a chance to taste one of Italy's most popular and internationally renowned white wines: Cortese di Gavi (or simply 'Gavi'). Although still in Piedmont, the characteristics are more similar to those of the fruity whites of Liguria than to those of Piedmont.  

The wine tasting will follow a tour of the La Scolca vineyard's cellars, including Gavi DOCG and a sparkling Gavi.

Finally leaving Piedmont, you will arrive in the delightful fishing village of Camogli in time for lunch.  Although this beautiful town lacks the name recognition of Portofino and Cinque Terre, it is easy to enjoy its relaxed atmosphere and laid-back charm, whether you decide on a seafood lunch on the seafront or delicious foccacia as you wander the streets.

Portofino is the next port of call.  You will have free time here to admire the colorful houses, luxury yachts that line the harbor, and local artisans' work that fills the shops. 

Later in the afternoon, the day's final stop will be in Rapallo, where you will spend the next two nights at the Grand Hotel Bristol*.  

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel.   

*The tour includes shared accommodation in a double/twin room.  Single supplements and optional upgrades are available (including sea views).

The day will start early with breakfast at the hotel before taking the train along the beautiful Italian Riviera coast to Manarola village. You will have some time to explore on your own or to enjoy the stunning views over coffee before learning to make Liguria’s signature dish.

Discover the art of making pesto by crushing fragrant basil leaves, fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, and hard cheese in a pestle and mortar. Learn why this ancient art can never be successfully replicated by modern technology. Once your sauce is prepared, sit down to a well-deserved lunch of pasta al pesto and a glass of the local wine.

After departing Manarola by ferry, you will arrive in the village of Vernazza, which many consider the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre. Here, you can enjoy the colored houses on the beach or wander the winding streets.

The final stop on the ferry will be Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five villages. Here, a driver will meet you for the drive to the Sassarini vineyard. Throughout the day, you will see vines growing precariously on artificial terraces up the cliffs. Wine production here is an arduous process done entirely by hand. Much of the wine produced here is white, but there are also some reds and the local nectar, the sweet Sciacchetrà DOC, made from the best grapes grown closest to the sea.

In the late afternoon, return to the hotel and enjoy the evening in Rapallo.

Overnight in Rapallo.

NB: The villages of Cinque Terre are not accessible by coach, and today, a moderate amount of walking will be required.

Leaving Liguria behind, you will arrive in Tuscany, the last region on our tour today. 

Your first stop will be in Massa Cararra to visit the quarries, which produce some of the most precious marble on earth. The marble is a favorite among artists for its pure color and the ease with which it can be worked. Here, Michelangelo once came to select the best marble for his pietà and statue of David, which is famously built from a single block, to oversee its extraction and to deepen his knowledge of the material.

In the company of a local private guide, travel high up the marble mountain in off-road vehicles and into the quarries to discover how the marble is extracted and experience stunning views before journeying into an underground quarry. 

By lunchtime, you will have arrived in the walled town of Lucca, where you will have free time for lunch and to explore the city. Relax in the central Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, walk the ancient walls, or climb the Guinigi Tower for a great view across the city and surrounding countryside before moving further into Tuscany and the famous Chianti region.

Arriving at Villa Le Barone*, you will have time to relax before being welcomed to Tuscany with a typical Tuscan dinner.

Overnight at Villa Le Barone.

*The tour includes shared accommodation in a double or twin room. Single supplements and optional upgrades are available.

Today will start with an early breakfast and a special walk in the countryside. After an introduction to the precious and mysterious truffle, you’ll accompany a professional truffle hunter and their dogs into the woods in search of truffles. When the dogs sniff out one of these fragrant tubers, you help them dig it up! 

If you don’t feel like chasing truffles, you can opt for a leisurely morning at the hotel, where you can enjoy the gardens and the swimming pool until the group returns to prepare lunch.

Under the guidance of the hotel’s chef, learn to make a traditional Tuscan meal, including homemade pasta with a seasonal sauce, a main course, and dessert.  Following an active morning, enjoy a leisurely lunch and some free time on the hotel grounds.

In the afternoon, you will visit some of the delightful towns for which the Chianti region is so famous. Towns like Greve, Gaiole, and Castellina are great places for a relaxing stroll and a little shopping without the crowds that dominate the region’s better-known towns.

Please go ahead and return to the villa for dinner this evening.

Overnight at Villa Le Barone.

Today's tour will include 2 of Tuscany’s most famous towns: Siena and San Gimignano. 

Following breakfast at the villa, you will meet your local guide in Siena.  Together, you will visit the town’s main square, the Piazza del Campo, which hosts the famous Palio di Siena each summer, visit the world’s oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, where you will learn about the importance of Siena as a financial and political center and discover its artistic and architectural heritage.  A highlight of the tour will undoubtedly be the Romanesque-Gothic duomo, whose distinctive black and white stripes celebrate the city’s colors.  Along the way, don’t miss the chance to stop in one of the patisseries to try delicious dolci sensi like panforte, ricciarelli, and Cavallucci.

Lunch will be at the Torciano winery in the countryside surrounding San Gimignano. You will enjoy a private Tuscan lunch with some of Toriciano’s wines. A sommelier will discuss the wines with you, explaining how Chianti wines differ from others in Tuscany and the wines you have already experienced in Piedmont and Liguria. The tasting will include Chianti DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a rare example of a Tuscan white.

Following lunch, you will have time on your own in San Gimignano to explore the Medieval streets and the 14 surviving towers, which give the city its distinctive Medieval skyline.

In the evening, we return to the villa for dinner.

Overnight at Villa Le Barone

The final day of wine exploration will be in the UNESCO-protected Orcia Valley.  It will start with a walk in the lovely town of Montalcino, dominated by a Medieval fortress. Today, the Enoteca della Fortezza di Montalcino is a favorite stop for wine lovers looking to try the best of the local Brunello di Montalcino.

Your visit to the Altasino Winery will begin with a tour of the wine cellars, followed by lunch on their terrace, with stunning views across the valley, accompanied, naturally, by a selection of their wines.

The afternoon will be dedicated to Montepulciano, the most famous of the towns in the valley.  Much of the city is pedestrianized, which makes it an excellent place for an afternoon stroll.  Though the streets are all uphill, you will have free time to go at your own pace and visit the many beautiful shops on the way before the group meets again in the central square at the top of the town for your final wine tasting at Cantina da Ricci*.  Claiming to be the most beautiful wine cellar in the world, the visit begins with a descent through the ancient cellars, built to resemble a Gothic cathedral.  In the tasting room at the bottom, learn about Italy’s first DOCG wine, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, which you will taste along with Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, Tuscany’s sweet dessert wine, which is traditionally served with dry cantucci biscuits.

Return to the villa for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Villa Le Barone.

*Participants must be able to walk moderately. Still, if reaching the top of the town and taking the steps down to the cellar is an issue, your escort can direct you to an alternative entrance directly into the tasting room.

Following breakfast and the hotel check out, you will transfer to Florence for a city tour with a local guide.  Walking through the beautiful Renaissance streets, you will learn about the influential Medici and how they shaped much of the city you see today.  Patrons of the arts, the wealthy Medici not only built spectacular palaces and art collections but also supported some of the greatest artists of the day, including the young Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni.  The morning's highlight will be visiting the Accademia Gallery, where you can see Michelangelo's monumental sculpture of David, carved from a single block of Carrara marble when he was just 26 years old.

After the tour, you will have lunch in a local trattoria before returning to the coach for the short trip to the train station, where our time together officially ends. If you take advantage of our optional post-tour stay in Florence, you will be accompanied to your hotel on the banks of the Arno River.