A Luxurious Journey Celebrating Wine and Cuisine from Venice, Valpolicella, Franciacorta, the Dolomites and Slovenia

Day 1. Tue 8th June - Venice
Depart for an evening exploring Venice on foot for a street food and wine experience. Follow the same path that locals do to spend some time together with friends to drink and relax. It’s a dive into the secret social life of the Venetians! We’ll discover wine bars where we’ll enjoy the best local drinks and taste a variety of local cicchetti (similar to tapas). Overnight in Hotel Splendid, Venice. D

Day 2. Wed 9th June - Valpolicella
Leave Venice by boat and then bus to travel towards Valpolicella famous for its rich Amarone, Ripasso and Recioto wines. Visit, tasting and lunch at Possessioni Serego Alighieri. This renowned estate was bought by Pietro Alighieri, son of the poet Dante, in 1353 and has remained in the family of the great poet for twenty-one generations since.  After lunch we travel to Tommasi to visit the historic cellars and fruttai lofts stacked from floor to ceiling with the arele (grape drying racks) for the appassimento process. After the tasting we will make our way to Villa Quaranta, our base for the next two nights, a spa hotel owned by the Tommasi family in the heart of Valpolicella. We meet for a light dinner at the Hotel’s Bottega del Gusto with wines from the Tommasi estates.  B/L/D 

Day 3. Thu 10th June - Franciacorta & Lake Garda
We leave for Lombardy to explore Franciacorta, the premium region for traditional method sparkling wines. We visit the cellars at Berlucchi and enjoy lunch in the sumptuously frescoed 17th century Palazzo Lana. After lunch we head to Desenzano on Lake Garda and sail our way across the Lake to Lasize with stunning views of Sirmione.  Return to the Hotel where the evening is free. B/L

Day 4. Fri 11th June - Trento DOC
After check out we head to Ferrari, a famous producer of sparkling Trento DOC wines. Now run by the third generation, Ferrari's successor, Bruno Lunelli, produces top quality sparkling wines (visit is provisional).  We enjoy a wine paired lunch in the centre of Trento before we carry on our journey north to the towering mountains of the Dolomites of the South Tyrol. Our hotel for the next 2 nights is the Hotel Castel Hörtenberg in the charming city of Bolzano, which enjoys views of the peaks to the North. Free evening to explore the many restaurants in Bolzano. B/L

Day 5. Sat 12th June - South Tyrol
We drive to Lake Caldaro where many of South Tyrol's vineyards are located and visit the beautiful Kettmeir winery on the shore of Lake Caldaro. We taste their wines followed by lunch at the winery. Time to explore Bolzano after lunch before boarding the Ritten cable car up to Soprabolzano (4,000 feet) in time to view the sunset over the Rosengarten and dine at 1 Michelin Star restaurant 1908. Return to Bolzano by cable car. B/L/D

Day 6.  Sun 13th June - Prosecco Conegliano-Valdobbiadene
Check out and head to Conegliano-Valdobbiadene which is renowned for its Prosecco Superiore DOCG production, particularly the "Rive" and "Cartizze" subzones. They produce the highest quality Prosecco which is made from the Glera grape. We enjoy a tasting and lunch at Canevel.  After lunch we continue our journey on to Friuli to the Collio Brda region, close to the Italian border with Slovenia.  Our hotel for the next two nights is the Hotel Castello di Spessa, a 13th century castle. In the evening enjoy a wine tour of the Castle’s own cellar and a tasting with a light dinner. B/L/D

Day 7. Mon 14th June - Collio Brda
We drive the short distance to Corno di Rosazzo to discover some hidden Friulian gems at family run Specogna winery. These lands have always been devoted to wine making since Roman times. After a tasting we then travel over the border to Slovenia to visit Movia where we can compare wines made on the Italian side of the border with Slovenian ones.  We enjoy lunch here accompanied by wines and afterwards make our way back to the Castello.  Last night’s dinner in the castle at The Tavernetta Al Castello B/L/D

Day 8. Tue 15th June - Departure
9.30am Depart Hotel Castello di Spessa to Venice Airport. B

**Some visits are provisional

Included

• 1 night Splendid Hotel, Venice

• 2 nights at Hotel Villa Quaranta, Valpolicella

• 2 nights Castel Hörtenberg, Bolzano

• 2 nights Hotel Castello di Spessa, Capriva del Friuli

• Private transport by luxury coach

• English speaking guides

• Breakfast daily; 6 lunches / 5 dinners

• Activities as specified

• 9 winery visits

Not included

Airfare and flights; meals not mentioned above;

travel insurance, gratuities for guides