Wine country · DINING EXPERIENCES
Good estate dining experiences fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 9 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Start at 6pm with a small-group tour of Fonseca’s cellars, where you learn how Port travels from the Douro Valley to the bottle. Taste Bin 27 and Siroco during a live Fado performance, then add a three-course Portuguese dinner at WOW Porto.
“Tour guide was so informative. Fado show with port tasting in the dark was incredible.”
Leave Florence at 2:45 pm for Siena and the Chianti hills. You’ll have free time in Siena, visit wine estates, taste Tuscan wines and olive oil, and enjoy a four-course dinner. Guides such as Ana, Lisa, Frederick, Diego, and Marti have led departures, though the exact guide varies.
“Very disappointed with the tour. Maybe I should have booked a different one. The tour guide was very nice, but didn’t have to do much. She led us from the bus into Siena, and then told us to meet back in 2 hours. The wine experience was poor at best. The staff showed a total lack of interest - didn’t walk us thru the meals and wine. Very little commentary from them. They missed a great opportunity as their place is beautiful. But the execution was awful. I’ve had great luck with Viator but this one was clearly the worst.”
Travel from Florence by air-conditioned minivan or coach to a Tuscan wine estate. Tour the winery, taste local wines and farm products, then share a candlelit dinner among the vines. Hosts such as Aurora, Marta, and Luca add local stories, while bad-weather dinners move indoors.
“Had a wonderful evening. Tour included a short stop in a beautiful town before heading to the winery. Lovely dinner in outside at a beautifully set table with a tasting of wine with each course.”
Travel from Florence by Mercedes minivan to Siena and San Gimignano, then enjoy a wine tasting and Tuscan meal at a Chianti winery. You get a guided Siena walk, free time in San Gimignano, and the option to add Pisa. Guides may include Sabrina, Rubina, Brando, or Francesca.
“Siena and San Gimignano are must-see stops as part of your Italy experience. This trips had three parts. The driver was helpful and pointed out interesting sites along the journey. Part One: Siena. Siena is a remarkable city; home of the Palio. Our guide was not a great story teller. If not for our previous knowledge of the city, the Palio, and the neighborhoods, we would not have learned what makes Siena so special. She did not bring excitement about the spectacle of the Palio horse race. Siena is must-see, but a better tour guide is needed. Part Two: San Gimignano. We were left to explore on our own, which…”
Leave Florence with an English-speaking guide for two Chianti winery visits, estate tours, tastings, and a generous Tuscan dinner paired with estate wines. You may also stop in Greve. Guides such as Chiara, Filippa, Anna, and Gabriel have led recent departures.
“It was amazing. the fact that we were by bus made it great to just drink without being afraid to drive after. The only thing is the guide rushed a little bit right after we got the last glass of wine at the last vineyard, so we didn't have time to enjoy it as mich as the other wines before. I would still redo the activity if I come back to Italy”
Meet your sommelier at Tenuta Torciano, a short drive from San Gimignano, for a guided tasting of Tuscan wines and olive oils followed by a traditional lunch or dinner. Expect several wines, local dishes, and clear explanations from hosts such as Lorenzo, Marco, Mari, or Pietro.
“Amazing setting with excellent sommelier, delicious food and great wine selection for tasting. The drivers who picked us up/dropped off were very friendly. Totally delighted with this experience.”
Meet at Siena train station at 6:00 PM for a five-hour evening in Chianti. A driver-guide takes you to a Tuscan farm for wine tasting, a winery walk, chapel visit, sunset aperitivo, and a four-course dinner with roast meats, vegetables, dessert, wine, and water. Guides may speak English, Italian, or Spanish.
“amazing, would really recommend this if you want good food, amazing wine and excellent staff who will teach you alot about the wine and how to taste it. thank you so much for the wonderful evening”
Start at Etna Urban Winery near Catania for an evening walk through vineyards, dry-stone buildings, woodland, and olive trees. Visit an 18th-century palmento, then taste four Etna wines with chef Leonardo’s Sicilian dishes. The small group is capped at 15, and children receive a treasure map.
“Very nice experience, highly recommended. A nice story was told where it became clear where their wine comes from, saw a lot and took a walk over the vineyard, beautiful. The food afterwards was also really delicious. One of our highlights of the holiday was definitely this wine tasting. Again an absolute must!Auto-translated”
Spend three hours at a family-run winery near Alghero, walking independently through the vineyard and cellar before a seasonal Sardinian lunch or dinner. Host Yvana and her team serve local wine, pasta, meats, cheeses, vegetables, desserts, and alternatives for vegetarian, gluten-free, or lactose-free diets.
“Mieux expliquer en quoi consiste la visite du vignoble. Pas besoin d’arriver à l’avance”
Keep browsing
Pick a wine country, a cellar or a table under the vines.
