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La dolce vita
means “the good life” in Italian. For the founders of our tours, it means a
company that combines two passions: wine and
Italy
.
These tours are organized in
collaboration with a specialized wine-tour operator who then developed nine
itineraries in six regions
of Italy
. On each one, they offer access to a wide spectrum of wineries, from historic
estates to innovative start-ups, from legendary names to family-run farms.
Small groups (16 max.) allow for in-depth conversations with winemakers and
winery owners, who personally walk guests through their vineyards, cellars,
and display a lineup of wines.
Great wine demands great
food. The gourmet dinners provide just that, as do culinary side-trips to
cheese farms, olive oil presses, and truffle markets. Charming accommodations
in countryside inns, medieval wine towns, and even wineries enhance each
tour's intimate and unique character. For the active traveller, Wine &
Walking, as well as custom bike tours, are offered.
Our specialized and highly-respected
tour operators invite you to join them for a taste of
la dolce vita.
Their Italian wine tours offer:
-
Access to top wineries
-
Private tastings with owners and winemakers
-
Gourmet cuisine
-
User-friendly wine education
-
Italian hospitality
About our tour operators
They are the leading specialist in
Italian wine tours. They believe the best way to enjoy and learn about wine is
on location, close to the land and the people who produce it. Their Italian
wine tours provide full immersion in Italy's wine culture, offering an
enjoyable learning experience for wine enthusiasts of all types, from the
casual imbiber to the serious connoisseur. La Dolce Vita - the good
life, Italian style. Good food, delectable wine, convivial company, life at a
reasonable pace. Come see for yourself and check out the photo
album. Come join in the fun!
What makes the tours special?
.
Access, access, access.
They offer private in-depth tastings at Italy's top estates. On every wine
tour, wineries are chosen that reveal a cross-section of the Italian wine
world: traditionalists and modernists, family-run boutique wineries and
historic estates. Most are open to visitors only by special appointment.
.
Personal dialogue with winemakers. Who
better to talk about wine than the winemaker himself? That's who pours at many
of their tastings--or the winemaker's family members. In addition to dialogue
about wine, you'll enjoy anecdotes about their lives in the vineyard, their
local culture, their estate's history. It's intimate, personal, and friendly--la
dolce vita style.
.
Gourmet wine dinners: It goes
without saying that good wine deserves good food. Their Italian wine tours
emphasize food-and-wine pairings that bring out the best in each. And they
showcase a region's cuisine through their choice of restaurants, ranging from
elegant nouveau cuisine to mama's family-style cooking.
. Charming
accommodations: Countryside
villas, historic palazzi in medieval wine towns, active wine estates: these
are some of our hotels. Never a chain or anonymous modern structure.
. Small
groups and attentive service: With
groups no larger than 14 persons, and the company owners leading many of the
wine tours, everyone enjoys the utmost attention and service.
Our tour operators recognize that wine
lovers have different tastes. To accommodate a range of interests, they have
designed several kinds of wine tours. Their epicurean
wine tours delve into a region's wine and cuisine, with wine tastings
supplemented by stops at artisan cheesemakers,
olive oil
producers, and other culinary and cultural points of interest. Their walking
& wine tours are for the active traveller who wants to combine the
pleasures of outdoor exercise with the chance to learn about wine. Their day
trips in Tuscany and Piedmont are for busy travellers who only have a short
time to spare for winery visits. And their custom
tours are for couples and groups who would like a wine tour tailored to
fit their interests and needs. These include custom bike tours, as well.
Salute! Here's hoping to see you in
Italy and share la dolce vita.
Epicurean Wine Tours
Visit Greek temples and
Byzantine cathedrals. Absorb the Mediterranean sun and sea, basking in all its
glory as Western Sicily bids a welcome from the old port of Marsala.
Experience first-hand a new breed of innovative winemaker, as well as ancient
fusion cuisine born of the island's multicultural past.
Immerse yourself in Italy's
wine, cuisine, and culture. Enjoy in-depth conversations with winemakers as
you tour their cellars and vineyards. See also how olive oil and cheese are
made, and have fun with a hands-on cooking lesson.
Walking
Tours
The
most imtimate way to explore Italy. Stroll down country lanes and see why
travellers have walked these roads through the centuries. In Tuscany, hike
past vineyards, olive groves, stone farmhouses, and quaint medieval villages.
Or head to the coast and explore the seacliffs and fishing villages of the
Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. Morning walks are 3-4 hours (7-12 miles). In the
afternoon, van shuttle to the vineyards.
Biking
Tours
As well as our regular
biking tours, we also offer custom
biking tours for
groups of 4 or more in Tuscany, Piedmont, and other parts of Italy. Below are
two sample itineraries. These can be booked as special departures for your
biking group, or modified to suit your interests (with longer rides, for
instance).
All offer scenic back roads,
challenging hills, and great Italian cooking: a true biker's paradise. Sample
itineraries offer morning rides of 25-35 miles on rolling terrain, and shuttle
by van to the vineyards in the afternoons. More bike-intensive tours are also
available.
Custom
Tours
Custom tours in Italy's
wine regions are available for groups of 2-30. Whether you have an anniversary
to celebrate, a class of wine students, or a company incentive program, we can
design a tour for you. We are available to organize a custom tour tailored to
meet your specific interests, dates, and type of accommodation.
Planning Your Tour
Planning ahead provides the best
results. The further in advance a custom tour, for example, is discussed, the
more options are available regarding accommodations and program.
About The Service of Our Specialized Wine
Tour Operator
The utmost attention and
service are guaranteed. As a boutique tour operator specializing in
educational wine tours, personal contact with the people directly
responsible for the wine is emphasized. Clients will talk in-depth with
the Italian winemakers, winery owners, and the children who carry on their
work and traditions. That personal contact is what makes our tours so
memorable and provides lasting insight into Italian wine.
Where They Go
Our tour operators
specialize in the Tuscany, Piedmont (between the Riviera and the Alps),
and Veneto (near Venice) wine
regions of Italy. These regions are highly popular tour destinations. In
addition, their tours explore the up-and-coming regions of southern Italy,
particularly Sicily, the coastal zone of Tuscany called the Maremma,
and Friuli, the pinnacle of white wines, near the Austrian/Slovenian
border.
Wineries They Visit
Each tour contains a
carefully selected cross-section of wineries. Some are historically
important, like the impressive Castello di Brolio where Chianti was
'invented' in the 1800s. Others are radical innovators,
like Elio Altare, who rewrote the rules surrounding Barolo. Some are large
cutting-edge operations , like Castello Banfi, while others are small
family-run farms . And, of course, there are world-famous names,
like those behind Sassicaia and Ornellaia.
Itineraries can be structured around
specific vineyards that clients request. This is useful for wine shops, wine
clubs, educators, and collectors who might have relations with certain wine
producers or who have an interest in particular wineries.
Other Activities
In collaboration with our
specialized wine-tour operators, we work closely with clients to create a
program that is in keeping with their interests. Some prefer wine-intensive
tours. Others prefer to fold in some cultural, historic, and culinary
activities. These might include:
- tours of historic towns like Florence
or Palermo
- a hands-on cooking lesson
- tasting at an artisan cheese
factory or olive oil press
- truffle hunting demonstration
- medieval festivals & fairs
Accommodations
Our tour operators have
relations with many charming hotels in the wine regions. These include
countryside villas and renovated palaces in quaint wine towns - all with great
service and character. In addition, we can provide top-level accommodations in
the major cities within the wine regions, such as Florence, Siena, Verona, and
Palermo.
Gourmet Wine Dinners
As a wine tour company, we
are very attentive to food and wine pairings. The restaurants we select
emphasize gourmet regional cuisine and top wine producers from the area.
Group Size
Custom
Tours are available for groups
of 2-30 people. Small groups, of course, have more flexibility and options in
terms of hotels, restaurants, and wineries and benefit from more personalized
service.
Transportation
Small groups (up to 8)
travel in an air-conditioned minivan. Larger groups use either a mini-bus or
two mini-vans (the latter are more practical on winding country roads).
Guides
Whenever possible, one or
both company owners guide the custom tours. Additional guides are
professionals who are native Italians (often from the region visited), fluent
in English, and well-versed in wine.
Price
Our tour operators offer
reasonably-priced tours. The final price depends on a number of variables.
These include:
- Number of participants
- Accommodations (3-, 4-, or
5-star hotels)
- Menu (3-course vs. 4-course
meals)
- Meals (breakfast & dinner is
standard)
- Special tastings (e.g., old
vintages, vertical tastings)
- Special activities (e.g.,
cooking lessons)
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