While Italy was the world's top wine producer for 2012 and 2013, France has recently reclaimed the top spot. However, that doesn't mean Italy's wine region is inferior in any way. Each of Italy's wine regions has it's specific grapes and production qualities, and a well-guided tour of the entire area will enrichen your knowledge and palate regarding wine. These tours plan every aspect of your trip so you won't miss anything, and you'll save money along the way. Choose the region and travel itinerary that best suits your tastes.
1. Cellar Tours (Tuscany)
Tracing all the way back three millennia to the arrival of the Etruscans, Northern Italy's famous wine region of Tuscany offers some of the world's best vineyard tours and sightseeing. Known to locals as Toscana, this charming region of Italy is home to many vintners and olive oil producers alike due to the wide range of climates available. Cellar Tours, founded in 2003 by an American woman with a love of Europe and all things wine related, offers private and customized tours through several countries across Europe, including Italy. Every supplier, including hotels, restaurants, drivers, chefs, and vineyards, has been hand-picked by each member of this small, personal company. For wine connoisseurs everywhere, don't miss Cellar's Wine Tour of Tuscany: a week-long tour beginning and ending in Florence, Tuscany's beautiful, bustling capital. After spending your first night in Florence, travel through the Chianti region of Italy and sample your first wine in a private, chauffeured Mercedes. Then continue on to some smaller, quainter Italian villages, like Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Maremma, while staying in luxury boutique hotels along the way.
2. Travel Langhe (Piedmont)
The Piedmont region in northwestern Italy is famous for its rich red and Moscato wine varieties, and if you're looking for an authentic feel for Italy's smaller villages and vineyards, Travel Langhe offers several intriguing touring packages in this under-discovered region. English is seldom spoken in these hidden gems of villages, so hiring a tour guide is your best bet. The owners of Travel Langhe, an American couple with over 15 years of wine industry experience, offer accommodating options for touring the Piemonte region. For around $250 per person, you can take part in a refreshing morning hike, educational cooking class, three visits to nearby vineyards (tastings included), and a 3-course lunch, as well as hotel pick-up and drop-off in the nearby towns of Alba, Barolo, and Barbaresco.
3. Italy and Wine Tours (Veneto)
Modeled after the French government bureau that controls wine quality and designation of origin, Italy's DOC, or Denominazione di Origine Controllata, lists the Veneto region as its largest producer. This beautiful region of Northeastern Italy is protected by the Alps from cold Northern winds and, therefore, has a great climate for fertile soil. Known for its Merlot and Soave wine varieties, the Veneto region has many charming vineyards to explore and discover on your next vacation. Offering full day guided tours by mini bus or private car, Italy and Wine Tours will pick you up from your location with only 2 days notice of your desired visit. They also offer several tried and true itineraries to choose from, but each tour can be personally tailored. For instance, on the Prosecco Wine Tour, a region just an hour northeast of Venice, you will be guided by your own personal certified sommelier through wineries and wine tastings. You will also have an authentic and local Italian lunch, which serves as a nice break between sightseeing and wine tasting.
