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Great Wines of Italy

12 Days 11 Nights
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Immerse yourself in the world of the Great Wines of Italy, where centuries-old traditions meet breathtaking landscapes. From the robust reds of Tuscany’s Chianti region to the elegant Barolos of Piedmont and sparkling Proseccos of Veneto, Italy offers a diverse and celebrated wine culture. Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier or a curious traveler, this journey through Italy’s finest vineyards and cellars promises unforgettable tastes and stories that bring each bottle to life.

  • Easy
  • First Class hotels
  • Venice (VCE)
  • Rome (FCO)
  • Arrival and departure as detailed in the itinerary
  • 22
  • Luxury Minibus
  • 11
  • 2
  • 4/8

Overview

Great Wines of Italy is a fun and comfortable luxury tour designed for wine lovers. There’s nothing better than a spirited Italian dinner with great food and friends where everyone is pleasantly animated by a few glasses of fine wine. Some internationally known wines such as Chianti, Brunello, Nobile di Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Franciacorta, Barolo, and Asti Spumante to pique the interest of your taste buds, but we will also surprise you with some lesser-known local wines. Starting in Venice and finishing in Rome, you will visit the most significant “cantinas”. 

Highlights

  • 12 Day Tour – Prosecco, Barolo, Asti Spumante, Chianti, Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino
  • Start in Venice (VCE) – End in Rome (FCO)
  • Group of 8 passengers
  • 19 Meals to include – 11 buffet breakfasts, 8 wine tasting

Itinerary

  • Day
    01

    Arrive in Venice

    Welcome to Venice’s Marco Polo Int. Airport (VCE). Your airport transfer will be waiting for you at 11:00 pm to take you to your hotel. Meet your travel companions and visit a local winery in the afternoon. Wrap the day up with a local dinner.  

    Hotel: Voco, Cannaregio or similar (1 night)    

  • Day
    02

    Northeast area “Veneto”

    Leave the province of Venice to go to the province of Treviso and visit a winery in Valdobbiadene, the land of Prosecco, where this typical sparkling wine is made. Later go to the Bassiano del Grappa area to visit a distillery. Enjoy a short drive to the beautiful area of LakeGarda where we will spend the next three nights. Dinner will be served in the hotel.  

    Hotel: Poiano Resort, Baia Verde, or similar (3 nights)  

  • Day
    03

    Verona

    Enjoy a walking tour with our Local Guide in Verona, the city famous for the love story of Romeo and Juliet. See the famous balcony from Shakespeare’s tragedy as well as the Roman Arena. In the afternoon, visit a local winery. The hills between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea near Lake Garda’s East Coast are a prolific region of fine wines. Experience the famous labels of Bardolino and Valpolicella (a combination of grape varieties) or Recioto and Soave (delicate white wines). Tonight enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant.  

  • Day
    04

    Sirmione – Lake Garda area

    Today experience the beautiful village of Sirmione at your own pace. In the afternoon there will be wine tastings and then a scenic drive through the area between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo where the Chiavennasca grape is grown and used to create the full-bodied and rich bouquet wines of Sfurzat & Valtellina. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.  

  • Day
    05

    Franciacorta – Piedmont

    Go west to reach Franciacorta in the province of Brescia where we will visit a local winery. Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, and Chardonnay grapes are traditionally used to create the wine “Franciacorta”. In the afternoon, reach our hotel in the Piedmont region where we will spend the next three nights. Dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant.  

    Hotel: Spinerola, Tenuta la Romana, or similar (3 nights)  

  • Day
    06

    Asti

    Enjoy some free time in Asti city center for shopping. In the afternoon, drive through the area of Asti to reach a local winery where sweet Moscato grapes grow and are transformed into Asti Spumante. Right around the corner is where Brachetto and Barbera grapes come from. Tonight, dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

  • Day
    07

    Northwest Area “Piedmont”

    Experience some pearls of the beautiful region of Piedmont. The most common grape variety from Piedmont is Nebbiolo, known in this region since the 13th century. Barolo, Barbaresco, and many other wines are created from this variety. After a visit to the local winery lunch will be served at the local restaurant. Tonight is a free evening to enjoy at leisure. 

  • Day
    08

    Tuscany and the Chianti Hills

    Leave the region of Piemonte for the beautiful Chianti area in the heart of Tuscany. Visit some small villages with free time to frequent some wine shops and taste local wine and food. In the late afternoon, take a short ride to our hotel where you are sure to be amazed by an authentic Tuscan dinner  

    Hotel: CDH Radda, Tenuta di Ricavo, or similar (3 nights)  

  • Day
    09

    Wines of Tuscany

    Today, visit one of the most beautiful wineries of Tuscany to discover the secret of “Chianti Classico” followed by lunch. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. 

  • Day
    10

    Day 10 – Montepulciano, Pienza – Montalcino

    Take a walking tour through the medieval streets of Montepulciano and its several “cantinas”. Not far from here,  go to the small village of Pienza to discover its delicious homemade cheeses which pair perfectly with wine. Two important Tuscan red wines grow in this area. Brunello Di Montalcino is a strong red wine made exclusively of Brunello grapes which has a long life (the first official great vintage was in 1888 and 5 perfectly intact bottles have been kept). Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano is made from Prugnolo Gentile (a clone of Sangiovese) grapes, this wine is strong and sour when young and becomes increasingly smooth and spicy with age.  

  • Day
    11

    rom Tuscany to Roman Castles area

    Leave Tuscany for the Roman Castles (a group of villages southeast of Rome where the Pope spends his summers) to visit a local winery. Here the varieties of white grapes are cultivated as Bellone, Arciprete white (a Bellone biotype), and two varieties of Greek grapes, called Moro and Yellow (which had almost disappeared in the territory until they were recently revalued). In the afternoon, check into the hotel. Tonight, dinner will be served at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of our Great Wines of Italy tour.  

    Hotel: Benito al Bosco, Castel Vecchio or similar (1 night)  

  • Day
    12

    Leaving for home

    Arrivederci Italia! Your transfer will arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO) at 7:00 am 

Map

Experiences

  • Venice: wine tasting
  • Treviso: distillery and wine tasting of Valdobbiadene and Prosecco
  • Verona: walking tour (WLG)*
  • Verona: wine tasting of Bordolino and Valpolicella
  • Sirmione: wine tasting of Sfurzat and Valtellina
  • Brescia: wine tasting of Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, and Chardonnay
  • Asti: wine tasting of Moscato and Asti Spumante
  • San Gimignano: walking tour (WLG)*
  • San Gimignano: wine tasting of Chianti
  • Pienza: walking tour (WLG)*
  • Castel Gandolfo: walking tour with some free time
  • *(WLG) = With local guide and wireless headsets

FAQs

What is the focus of this tour?

Great Wines of Italy is a luxury, small-group tour designed specifically for wine lovers. You will travel through some of Italy’s most iconic wine regions, visiting historic “cantine” and tasting renowned labels such as:

  • Prosecco (Veneto / Valdobbiadene)
  • Bardolino, Valpolicella, Recioto, Soave (Lake Garda / Veneto–Lombardy area)
  • Franciacorta (Lombardy)
  • Moscato d’Asti, Asti Spumante, Barbera, Brachetto, Barolo, Barbaresco (Piedmont)
  • Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany)
  • Local white wines in the Roman Castles (Lazio), including Bellone, Moro, and Yellow grapes

You will enjoy guided tastings, vineyard and cellar visits, and regional cuisine that showcases ideal food-and-wine pairings.

What is the difficulty level?

The tour is rated Easy. Activities include:

  • Light to moderate walking on cobblestone streets and in historic town centers
  • Standing during winery tours and tastings

Guests should be comfortable walking at a relaxed pace and managing a few steps and gentle inclines.

What is the group size?

This is an intimate small-group tour designed for 4 to 8 guests (maximum 8 passengers).
The small size allows for exclusive winery visits, flexible pacing, and a convivial atmosphere at meals and tastings.

What type of accommodation is included?

You will stay in First Class hotels, selected for comfort, atmosphere, and proximity to wine regions:

  • Venice area (1 night): Voco Cannaregio or similar
  • Lake Garda area (3 nights): Poiano Resort, Baia Verde, or similar
  • Piedmont region (3 nights): Spinerola, Tenuta la Romana, or similar
  • Chianti / Tuscany (3 nights): CDH Radda, Tenuta di Ricavo, or similar
  • Roman Castles area (1 night): Benito al Bosco, Castel Vecchio, or similar

Room types are typically standard doubles or twins, with upgrades on request (subject to availability and supplement).

What kind of transportation is used during the tour?

All touring and inter-city transfers are by luxury minibus, driven by a professional driver. The vehicle is comfortable, air-conditioned, and suitable for small groups and scenic countryside routes.

Which regions and wines will I experience?

You will visit several of Italy’s most significant wine areas:

  • Veneto – Prosecco & Lake Garda area
    • Valdobbiadene (Prosecco)
    • Bardolino, Valpolicella, Recioto, Soave
    • Distillery visit in the Bassano del Grappa area
  • Lombardy – Franciacorta & Valtellina area
    • Franciacorta (Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, Chardonnay)
    • Wines from Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) used in Sfurzat & Valtellina
  • Piedmont – Asti & Langhe
    • Moscato d’Asti, Asti Spumante, Brachetto, Barbera
    • Barolo, Barbaresco and other Nebbiolo-based wines
  • Tuscany – Chianti & Southern Tuscany
    • Chianti & Chianti Classico
    • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano & Brunello di Montalcino
  • Lazio – Roman Castles (Castelli Romani)
    • Local white grapes such as Bellone, Arciprete white, Moro, and Yellow

Do I need to be a wine expert to enjoy this tour?

Not at all. The tour is suitable for:

  • Enthusiastic beginners who enjoy wine and want to learn
  • Intermediate wine lovers keen to deepen their understanding
  • Experienced wine connoisseurs eager to visit iconic and boutique producers

Local hosts and guides explain the wines in a clear, engaging, and accessible way.

Is this tour suitable if I do not drink alcohol?

While wine is the central theme, non-drinkers are welcome. However, please note:

  • Many activities revolve around winery visits and tastings.
  • Non-alcoholic options can often be requested, and you can still enjoy the landscapes, food, and cultural visits.

If you rarely or never drink, you may wish to consider whether a wine-focused tour is the right fit for you.

Can I ship wine home?

Many wineries offer wine shipping services to various countries. Availability and regulations depend on your home country’s import rules. We recommend:

  • Asking directly at the winery about shipping options and costs
  • Bringing your address details and being aware of your country’s customs limits

You may also carry a few bottles in your luggage (subject to airline and customs regulations).

Is there an olive oil experience included?

Yes. In addition to wine, you will also enjoy an olive oil experience, where you can taste and learn about high-quality Italian olive oils and their pairing with local dishes.

Is there a minimum age to join the tour?

Given the strong wine focus, this tour is designed primarily for adults. Local laws regarding wine tasting require guests to be of legal drinking age in Italy (18+). Families with older teenagers may be accepted on request, but minors cannot participate in tastings.

Can the itinerary change?

Minor adjustments to the order of visits, specific wineries, or restaurants may occur due to local conditions, harvest schedules, or operational reasons. Any modifications will aim to preserve or enhance the overall quality of the experience.

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+39 3294218922
info@greattoursofitaly.com

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