Tour description
The Best of Italian Wine Private Tour
This 12 day all encompassing wine tour of Italy will take you to the most famous wine regions of Italy and also some up and coming wine gems. You will travel to the north of Italy to savor the grand reds of Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco. Discover picturesque vineyards and the medieval hilltop villages of Tuscany while sipping on elegant Super Tuscans, Brunello and Chianti. Then down to Umbria and it´s lesser known but equally delicious Sagrantino wines. Ending in the Eternal City of Rome. Splendid landscapes, boutique wineries, and historic accommodations make this Italian Wine Tour one of a kind!
DAY 1 MILAN
Your private chauffeur will collect you from Milan Airport to begin your Bespoke Wine Tour of Italy. Check in to your impeccably run 4* boutique hotel in the heart of Milan’s Quadrilatero fashion district. Welcome to the economic and design capital of Italy! Ruled by the Caesars, Napoléon, the Austro-Hungarians and Mussolini, Milan has an ancient and fascinating history. After the unification of Italy in 1861, it also became an important industrial and cultural center – a title it still holds today. Have a quiet afternoon at your hotel, to rest after your flight, or start exploring with our many insider suggestions.
Why not arrive a few days earlier to take in some shopping days and a luxury fashionista tour with our official guide and personal shopper?
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured airport transfer. Accommodation in a 4* boutique hotel in Milan´s fashion district.
DAY 2 PIEDMONT
Your private chauffeur will whisk you away to Piedmont, a wine lover & gastronomic paradise! You may want to stop along the way to visit Torino, an elegant and stately capital city famous for its Savoy Residences, glorious chocolate shops and historic cafes where we can arrange a very special guided tour. Or perhaps the historic town of Canelli with its vast underground network of wine cellars where you will enjoy a VIP tour and premium tasting at a prestigious winery.
Piedmont is a region of Italy known for its high quality foods and wine, but also for its diverse landscape where plains, rolling hills and mountains all come together. Art and history buffs will be amazed by the abundance of abbeys, castles, fortresses, baroque towns, and alpine villages to visit. Your home for the next three nights of your Northern and Central Italy Wine Tour is a beautiful rural retreat run by a charming family, in the heart of the most beautiful Barolo vineyards. A fantastic dinner with wine awaits at the hotel restaurant, renowned for incredibly delicious traditional Piemontese cuisine and homemade excellent Barolo and Langhe wines. Take in the panoramic views from the relaxing terrace.
Tour in a Nutshell: Private chauffeur from Milan to Piedmont with stops enroute. Dinner with wine at your hotel. Accommodation at a beautiful rural retreat in the heart of the famous Barolo wine-making region.
DAY 3 BAROLO
Your introduction to Barolo – the King of Italian wines – begins in the northern part of this wine lover’s paradise. Our chauffeur and expert wine guide will take you through unspoiled wine country with undulating hills of vines, to an historic family run estate in La Morra. This lovely winery not only produces excellent Barolos, their juicy Dolcetto d’Alba and fragrant Langhe Arneis are also top notch. Your visit will finalize with a tasting of their finest wines in a room overlooking the most beautiful part of the valley.
Following a delicious Piemontese lunch, your Private Barolo Wine Tour continues to the southern part of Barolo, the Monforte d’Alba area, where many prestigious cellars are clustered. You will visit one of the region’s premier producers of Barolo wine, famous for their majestic Barolo wines of extraordinary depth, complexity and longevity. You may want to visit the 10th century castle that dominates the town of Barolo, now converted into a fascinating wine museum. Upon return to your luxury retreat, enjoy a fantastic dinner of traditional Piedmont dishes, with the local truffles from Langhe. Your meal will be accompanied with their Barolo wines and served in their smart dining room overlooking the vineyards, against a stunning backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Barolo winery visits with tastings. Local lunch with wine. Exquisite Piedmontese cuisine dinner with truffles and wines. Overnight in the Barolo wine region.
DAY 4 BARBARESCO
If your Piedmont and Tuscany Wine Tour coincides with autumn, a fun adventure of truffle hunting awaits you! Start the day with an active morning in the enchanting woods guided by a local truffle hunter and his trusty dogs. Today is dedicated to Barbaresco, the Queen of Italian Wines, characterized by its rich, spicy flavors and perfumed sweetness. Barbaresco is considered more elegant and refined than Barolo (which is a more robust and longer-lived red). Passing by rows of vineyards, your chauffeur will take you to the quaint village of Barbaresco, where you will pop into the Enoteca Regionale. This wine temple is stocked with representative wines of most of the wine producers of Barbaresco, with bottles from 130 different wineries and 250 labels for you to peruse.
From here you will visit a landmark winery, which owns one of the DOCG’s finest single vineyards, the mythical Martinenga (all of it Nebbiolo planted) where an ancient Roman temple once stood. Your visit will finish with an exclusive tasting. Your regional lunch at a delightful farmhouse restaurant overlooks the vineyards, and will be accompanied of course by more wonderful Barbaresco wines. Your final visit of the day is to the family home and winery of a Barbaresco favorite where you will receive a warm welcome and maybe a handshake by Giulio, the head of the family.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Barbaresco winery visits with tastings. Regional lunch with wine. Overnight in the Barolo wine region.
DAY 5 LUCCA
This Barolo to Brunello Private Wine Tour now takes you onwards to Tuscany to discover another amazing wine region called Bolgheri. Along the way you will stop in Lucca for a stroll along the ancient walls and elegant streets and a lunch of traditional local dishes. The medieval city of Lucca, nicknamed the “city of 100 churches”, is famously known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls, the Duomo, the church of San Michele, and its vibrant Roman square (Piazza dell’Anfiteatro) where the amphitheater once stood. Why not stop in a local bakery and try some buccellato, a typical semi-sweet bread with raisins?
Then continue to your splendid mansion, where paradise seems just a stone’s throw away. This historic relais has been restored to its former splendor and is surrounded by an evolving aromatic garden filled with roses, rosemary and lavender. The stunning rooms and elegant interiors boast terracotta floors, earthy relaxing colors, antique furniture and the best quality textiles. Take the afternoon to unwind and feel refreshed, maybe enjoying one of the many wellbeing treatments or a sumptuous dinner of local produce from the farm and garden.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation with a stop in Lucca. Traditional lunch in Lucca. Accommodation at a luxurious Relais in Bolgheri.
DAY 6 SUPER TUSCANS
Your charming local chauffeur will take you into the lush countryside of the Maremma for a Super Tuscans tour. “Super Tuscan” refers to a wine created using unconventional grape varieties or blends, defying local Italian wine appellation rules. Began in the 1970´s, Super Tuscans are now some of the most expensive and sought after wines from Italy. On your first winery stop come with high expectations, as this Super Tuscan icon will most likely be one of your favorite winery experiences of your Custom Italian Wine Tour. Accompanied by their excellent guide, learn about the exceptional vineyards and continue to their impressive barrel room and cellar, where you will be greeted by contemporary wine themed artworks. Your exclusive tour will be finalized with a wine tasting of the current vintages of their mythical reds.
Re-energize with lunch at the charming winemaking village of Bolgheri, famous for its avenue lined with centuries old cypress trees. Then continue to an exclusive slick Napa-esque operation and modern wine estate. The vineyards are located in a pristine, “wild” part of Maremma along the Tuscan coast where biodiversity is vibrant. The estate is 100 percent organic certified. Their focus on sustainability aims to preserve the terroir’s “wild” character. The winery’s bio-architecture, designed by famed Swiss architect Mario Botta, is a great contrast to your morning visit. As always your visit ends in style with a premium tasting. Evening free to relax at your rural retreat.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Super Tuscan winery visits with tastings. Regional lunch with wine. Overnight in the Bolgheri wine region.
DAY 7 TUSCAN VILLAGES & SIENA
Your Tuscan Wine Tour now continues to the beautiful Chianti wine region, stopping in the quintessential Tuscan villages of San Gimignano and Siena along the way. San Gimignano never fails to impress with its unique skyline of tall stone towers – like a medieval version of city skyscrapers. The defensive walls built in the 10th and 13th centuries encircle some of the finest examples of towers, noble palaces, late Roman churches and fresco artwork found in the region. Tuscany produces some of the best high quality olive oil with a distinctive fresh & peppery flavor that you will savor during an olive oil tasting.
Then on to Siena, a romantic, medieval town set upon a hill. It has a long and ancient history, dating back to the Etruscan era and the historic city center has been declared a world heritage site by Unesco. Enjoy an aperitif or a coffee in Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares and pulsing with local life. Take a photo in front of Torre del Mangia, an unmissable landmark of Siena and one of the tallest medieval towers in Italy. After a relaxing drive around Italy’s most scenic vineyards and verdant rolling hills, you will arrive at your hotel in the heart of the Chianti. This wonderful 18th century villa hotel is surrounded by panoramic views and you will surely appreciate a delightful stroll in the gardens, a dip in the pool and a proper delicious country dinner or some informal nibbles on their lovely terrace, as you unwind into country life.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation with stops in San Gimignano and Siena. Olive Oil Tasting. Accommodation at a historic villa in the Chianti countryside.
DAY 8 CHIANTI WINERIES
Today a full immersion in the Chianti wine universe awaits as you follow the Chiantigiana Route visiting the most iconic wineries and villages! You will learn all about the Sangiovese grape and its many expressions in chianti wines.
Your Luxury Custom Wine Tour of Italy begins at a small producer of Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan wines, which can be bought only on premises or online and are not sold wholesale. Owners Rita and Silvano will take you on a very intimate tour of their cellars and the Acetaia with aged balsamic vinegars. After the visit, their exquisite wines will be paired with organic products from their farm and some exceptional dishes like fresh pasta with traditional meat sauce,
scrambled eggs with truffles (hunted locally by their faithful dog), cheese platter served with homemade honey, and typical meats from their free-range pigs. After lunch you may want to stop for a stroll in the nearby village of Castellina in Chianti, with its geranium filled balconies and many wine shops.
Then on to a famous estate with magnificent architecture that is innovative, eco-friendly and harmoniously blended in with the surrounding scenery. You will have private access to production areas and aging cellars for both barrels and large casks. The wine tasting experience will be held in the striking suspended tasting room or in the more intimate Bottaia room and includes a selection of four wines. Continue to enjoy the scenic landscapes of the Chianti wine region area back at your country villa hotel.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Winery visit and tasting at two prestigious Chianti wineries. Winery visit followed by lunch with wine pairing. Overnight in the Chianti countryside.
DAY 9 MONTALCINO & MONTEPELUCIANO
Today you head south to the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino wine region to visit a family owned historical winery, beautifully set amongst the hills of Montalcino. The climate here creates robust and elegant wines due to the strong sun exposure during the day and strong thermal drop in the evening. After the visit you will enjoy a typical Tuscan meal at their lovely farmhouse, paired with top class wines such as Sassomagno, Rosso di Montalcino, and of course Brunello di Montalcino! On the drive to Pienza you will pass some of Italy’s most scenic vineyards and verdant rolling hills. Stop to take in the Val d’Orcia views. Pienza is a pretty little hamlet and the birthplace of 15th century Pope Pius II. Meander the squares, palaces and fortresses designed with harmonious proportions. Stop at one of the many cheese shops for some artisan sheep’s milk cheese, Pecorino di Pienza.
Now on to discover the Vino Nobile wines of Montepulciano, the first wines to be given the ultimate quality level of DOCG certification. The small producer that you will visit began in the 1960’s as a weekend activity. Today this top quality estate makes some of the best Vino Nobile as well as two Super Tuscans, which you will get to taste. Your Luxury Italian Wine Tour ends in Montepulciano, a hilltop town full of elegant Renaissance palaces. You will be staying in a 17th century palazzo, ideally located in the center of town. The hotel offers stunning views of the Val di Chiana, with Lake Trasimeno and Cortona in the distance.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Winery visit followed by lunch with wine pairing in Montalcino. Winery visit and tasting at a prestigious Montepulciano winery. Accommodation in a boutique palace in the heart of Montepulciano.
DAY 10 UMBRIA & MONTEFALCO WINERIES
Today your Bespoke Private Italian Wine Tour takes you to the up and coming Montefalco Sagrantino wine region in the heart of peaceful Umbria. Your first stop is an organic winery that was acquired in 1882, and has been run by the same family ever since. On your tour you will learn about Montefalco Sagrantino territory, and the technical aspects of their wine production. Here you will also enjoy a delicious, Umbrian home cooked lunch.
Onwards to visit a prestigious estate begun in 1971 whose founder is credited with bringing this previously little-known wine to the global stage. Tour the vineyards, winery, and “Barricada” (barrel room) and taste their best wines such as Sagrantino 25 Anni Riserva (95 points by Robert Parker). Your Umbrian tour then continues to the hilltop town of Spoleto, one of the oldest in Italy funded by the Huns over 2500 years ago! Immerse yourself in ancient times as you discover Spoleto’s many monuments, churches, noble palaces and Roman amphitheater.
Relax and admire the landscapes of Umbria as your chauffeur takes you back to your elegant lodging in Montepulciano.
The evening is free to wander the tiny streets of Montepulciano and try one of the many delectable restaurants.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Winery visit followed by lunch with wine pairing in Montefalco. Winery visit and tasting at another prestigious Montefalco winery. Overnight in Montepulciano.
DAY 11 ROME
Your Wine Tour of Northern and Central Italy has one more surprise in store! On the way from Tuscany down to Rome, you will get to discover the up and coming wine region of Castelli Romani in Lazio and its Cesanese grapes. This family run winery is one of the oldest wineries in the Castelli Romani region and possibly in Italy with uninterrupted wine production since 1721! The soil of this area is rich in minerals and gives the grapes a unique character and taste. The winery has many indigenous varieties such as Malvasia, Bellone, Cesanese, Trebbiano, Montepulciano and Cacchione which you will get to taste after your tour.
When you arrive to Rome you might want to relax at your boutique 4* hotel in the center of town or start exploring the Eternal City. The hotel´s prime location makes it easy to explore Rome’s city center on foot and admire the Trevi fountain, Piazza di Spagna, the Quirinale area, and the Roman Forum. Perhaps enjoy an aperitif in one of the iconic piazzas, taking in the ancient history which surrounds you, or find a spot for people-watching over a typical Italian coffee.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Winery visit with tasting in Lazio. Accommodation in a boutique 4* hotel in the center of Rome.
DAY 12 DEPARTURE FROM ROME
Today is the end of your Best of Italian Wine Tour and we are sure that you will be taking away some wonderful memories with you! Your private chauffeur will take you from your hotel to the Rome airport for your onward journey.
If you are not ready for the long trip home just yet, then we will be delighted to arrange a tour extension if you are interested. Maybe you would like to extend your stay in Rome? We can happily include extra nights in the “Eternal City” if you wish to stay longer, and perhaps a guided tour.
Tour in a Nutshell: Chauffeured Airport Transfer.
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The Best of Italian Wine Private Tour Details
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