WINE TOUR

Tour escorted by our professional tour manager with knowledge of wines. Eleven meals (always varied and typical of the areas visited and minimum four-course menus) are included in our quotation.

Italy is full of very good, varied wines. Viticulture was brought to Italy by the Greeks when they established a colony south of Naples about 700 B.C.

There is evidence that the Etruscans knew how to make wine at an even earlier date. There may be some doubt about exactly when and how vineyards were born in the Italian peninsula but the land is so good for growing grapes that from the lower slopes of the Alps in the north all the way down to Sicily wine grapes are grown abundantly in every Italian province.

The Roman armies established vineyards in France, Spain, Germany, on the Rhine and Danube, and along the Adriatic coast. Year by year the increased production of wine makes Italy the largest producer of wine in the world.

Our comprehensive wine tour can be done using many regions of Italy, visiting many wineries and cellars, or limited to visiting the most colorful, festive, or grandiose. Whether for the foremost oenologist or for the amateur collector, Italy is the wine lover's dream.

1st day - Rome

Arrival at airport. Upon arrival in Rome you will be met by your our manager and escorted to your hotel located in the heart of Rome. After checking in at the hotel, the balance of the day will be at leisure.

Dinner that evening will be at a typical Roman restaurant where before being served fine food and wine into the late hours as your welcome to Rome, you will have a wine tasting with a presentation of five leading wines of Latium, both whites and reds. Overnight at the hotel.

2nd day - Rome

After breakfast in the morning. depart the hotel for a half day city sightseeing tour of Rome. You will visit the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and much, much more. The balance of the day will be at leisure. Perhaps book an optional excursion to Tivoli or the Catacombs. Lunch is not Included. Dinner tonight is at the wine producing farm/restaurant l'Olivella of Frascati preceded by a visit of the vineyards, caves and wine cellars overnight at the hotel.

3rd day - Rome - Frascati - Marino - Velletri - Rome

Full day visit to the famous vineyards and cellars of the Castelli Romani, such as Fontana Candida in Frascati and the Pontine Plain producing superb dry white wines (Cannellino, Colli Albani, Colli Lanuvii, Velletri). Lunch is provided in a typical restaurant in the countryside.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

4th day- Rome - Montefiascone - Orvieto - Montepulciano - Montalcino - Florence

After breakfast in the morning. depart the hotel to visit vineyards and cellars at Montefiascone, home of the famous dry white Est, Est Est. Then continue to Orvieto, well-known for the dry and semisweet whites to visit an important cellar where an expert oenologist will lecture on Umbrian wines. Then continue to Montepulciano whose "Vino Nobile" (dry red wine) ranks amongst the best in Italy for independent lunch. Early afternoon continue to Montalcino, world famous for its dry red Brunello. Early evening arrival in Florence for overnight.

Dinner tonight will be at the typical restaurant Beatrice, where before being served fine typical Tuscan food you will have a wine tasting with presentation of four leading wines of Tuscany, all reds. Overnight at the hotel.

5th day - Florence - Chianti - Siena - San Gimignano - Florence

Full day outside Florence to visit vineyards and cellars of the Chianti district like Ruffino at Pontassieve and Ricasoli at Gaiole, producing the universally known Chianti dry red wines.

Short visit of beautiful Siena. Lunch not included. See the vineyards at San Gimignano and taste the very good local dry white Vernaccia. Late in the afternoon return to Florence. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

6th day - Florence - Modena - Venice

After breakfast a visit of the city. Amongst the more relevant things to see are the Piazza del Duomo, Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery with Its Paradise Doors, the river embankment of the Arno, the Old Bridge and Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers a superb panoramic view of the city which was the cradle of the Renaissance.

Free time for independent lunch and then in the early afternoon departure to Modena to visit the wineries producing the renowned sparkling dry red Lambrusco, Sorbara, Grasparossa, Salamino wines.

At the end of the visit in the late afternoon continuation to Venice; dinner and overnight at the hotel.

7th day - Venice

After breakfast start a guided walk around the city, which includes besides many other points of interest a visit to the Palace of the Doges (Ducal Palace) and to the Basilica of St. Mark. Guided walk ends at about noon. Rest of day at leisure in Venice to experience and discover the unique city of the hundreds of canals. No meals are included this day.

Overnight accommodation at the hotel.

8th day - Venice - Verona - Sirmione

Today we combine sightseeing and wines but to full fill the heavy programme an early wake up is imperative. Departure to Padua and short stop to visit St. Anthony's Basilica. Continuation of the trip to Verona and visit the Piazza delle Erbe. Juliet's house and the Roman's Arena.

Transfer to the wine producing area and lunch at typical restaurant. In the afternoon visit the production area and wineries producing the well-known dry wines: Soave. Tocai, and dry reds: Bardolino, Valpolicella, Amarone, a Cabernet (in the winery of Valpolicella a specialized guide will explain all the different types of grapes and the different qualities of the Veronese wines.

Late in the afternoon continuation of the trip to Sirmione.

Arrival at the hotel and check-in. Visit Catullo's grottoes and free time for walks along the lake. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

9th day - Sirmione - Valtellina - Pavia

A.M. departure to famous wine producing Alpine valley of Valtellina, home of excellent dry red Inferno, Grumello, and Sassella wines. visit vineyards and cellars, stop for lunch in typical local restaurant.

Then down the hilly area across the Pianura Padana plain to another top red wine area, Pavia, home of the Oltrepò wines, Sangue di Giuda, Buttafuoco, Barbacarlo, and Freccia Rossa.

Dinner that evening will be at a typical Lombard restaurant where before being served fine food and wine, you will have a wine tasting with a presentation of five leading wines of Lombardy, both whites and reds. Overnight at the hotel.

10th day - Pavia -Asti

After a short visit of the city proceed to Broni to visit a vineyard and two cellars of Oltrepò Pavese (lunch not included). In the afternoon we reach the world famous Le Langhe wine district. Dinner tonight will be inside the famous castle of Grinzane Cavour, preceded by a wine tasting of five leading wines, all reds, of Piemonte region. Overnight at the hotel in Asti.

11th day - Asti

Full day to visit vineyards and cellars like Marchesi di Barolo at Barolo and Scarpa at Nizza Monteferrato, to sample such dry red wines, Barolo (king of wines and wine of kings), Barbaresco, Grignolino, Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Freisa, and dry white Cortese. Country side typical Piedmontese lunch is incluted today between the various visits in a wine production farm. Dinner is not included overnight at the hotel.

12th day - Asti - Pessione di Chieri - Turin

Visit Martini and Rossi winery producing Asti Spumante, famous dry and sweet vermouth, besides the oenological Martini Museum, the most important one in Europe.

No lunch included today. Dinner this evening will be at a typical Piemontese restaurant where fine food and wine into the late hours will be your farewell to Italy.

Overnight at the hotel.

13th day - Turin

Time free for independent visits or shopping until transfer to the air port or the rail station and end of our service.