Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tour
Luxury day tour to Piedmont's Langhe: Boutique wineries, Barolo & Barbaresco tastings, Grinzane Cavour castle visit, and guide. Book Now!
EXPLORE ALL OUR EXPLORE YOUR PRIVATE WINE TOURS IN ITALY
This premium wine tour features vineyard walks at superb wineries in Chianti and Montalcino, and mouth-watering gourmet discoveries. Visits to Florence and Siena, two of the most spectacular cities in Italy, are also included, as well as hidden gems like Pietrasanta, Lucca, and Carrara and classics like Pisa. You will have your private chauffeur for the duration of this Luxury Tour, along with excellent local guides. The accommodation chosen for this tour is extremely luxurious, two of the most beautiful hotels in Europe and certainly in Italy.
Apart from sleeping in utter luxury, you will visit the beautiful cities of Florence and Siena; whose combined artistic heritage is more than most countries! Local art historians will lead you through the best galleries and museums (including the Uffizi Gallery), and you will have the chance to explore some lesser-known jewels, such as the Boboli Gardens, and picturesque medieval villages and towns like Pisa, Lucca, and Pietrasanta.
The cuisine featured on this tour is, as always, on our tours, a major highlight. Dine-in Michelin-starred restaurants along with rustic, mom-and-pop trattorias. The restaurants are hand-selected to show you the best Tuscany has to offer. The wines and specialties of Toscana are revered as being some of the finest in the world. On this tour, you’ll taste vintage Brunello di Montalcino and classic Chianti wines. Delicious local dishes include “Pappardelle Alla Lepre” (pappardelle pasta cooked with hare), Fagioli all’uccelletto (flavorful beans and tomato sauce), ribollita soup, wild boar cured sausage (“Prosciutto di Cinghiale”), topetti (hand made gnocchi from Versilia) and Lardo di Colonnata. Also on the menu is the famous Florentine dish “Bistecca Alla Fiorentina,” a huge T-Bone Tuscan steak usually big enough for two. You will taste it at Dario Cecchini, a veritable mecca for meat lovers. And, to finish off any proper Tuscan meal, perhaps while you are dining al fresco at one of the gorgeous hotels included in this tour, you must try the “Cantucci with Vin Santo” (Macaroons and “holy wine”). Divine! If you are looking for a luxurious food and wine orientated tour from Florence, with the “Best of” highlights of the region’s art treasures, then this tour is for you.
Florence
Your English speaking driver for the tour will meet you at the airport, and you will transfer by comfortable Mercedes to your exclusive hotel, tucked away in a chic neighborhood in Florence.
Arrive at your fantastic hotel, a true “urban resort” with Renaissance buildings surrounded by an immense park. Numerous personalities have stayed here through the centuries, including Pope Leo XI (the shortest-serving Pope in history), the Viceroy of Egypt, and five centuries of Italian nobles.
Florence awaits! After check-in, your chauffeur will take you into the historic center of Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
You will experience your first velvety wines of the tour, during a guided wine tasting in the stunning Bernardino Poccetti’s fresco room, before enjoying an authentic Florentine lunch at a lively local trattoria.
Next, you will receive a private guided walking tour to introduce you to Florence’s highlights: Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria, Michelangelo’s David, and Duomo with the huge “cupola” by Filippo Brunelleschi.
In the evening, transfer back to the luxury hotel and dinner on your own at the hotels Michelin starred restaurant.
Florence
A free morning to enjoy this splendid hotel, its beautiful private garden, and amenities. Early afternoon transfer to historic Florence. Guided by your charming art historian, you will visit the marvelous Uffizi gallery, one of the most famous art museums in the world, boasting Botticellis, Michelangelos, and Da Vincis, unforgettable. You will also visit the Vasari Corridor, a skywalk built-in 1565 by order of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici to connect his residence (Palazzo Pitti) and government palace, for security reasons. This is a real treat!
You will also enjoy a guided tour of Boboli gardens, before going back to the hotel to freshen up.
A 3 Michelin starred dinner will be waiting for you at Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, the crème de la crème venue to begin a gastronomic journey. Set in a magnificent Renaissance palace, there are over 150,000 bottles of wines in the cellar, stocked with Italian labels and wines from all over the world, selected by owner Giorgio Pinchiorri. These include Sassicaia, Masseto, Gaja, Soldera, Quintarelli, Pétrus, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer, to name only a few. In the kitchen, his wife, French chef Annie Féolde, is known for her innovative flair. One of Italy’s most famed restaurants thanks to the luxurious ambiance, professional service, and superb food, and its cellar has won Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1984. You will visit the cellar and choose your wine for dinner, exploring the infinite wine list, the greatest pleasure for a wine lover!
Florence – Chianti - Montalcino
Today will be a wine tasting extravaganza! Transfer from Florence towards Siena, via the most beautiful villages of the Chianti Classico region including Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti. Chianti Classico is part of the greater Chianti wine region, and you will find the best vineyards. It is located right between Florence and Siena (The border was designated in 1716). Climate, soils, and altitudes have made Chianti Classico a top-notch region producing premium wines. The symbol of Chianti Classico is the Black rooster, which is on all Chianti Classico bottles.
Stop for a VIP winery visit at the beautiful Capannelle. You will enjoy a professional tasting of the full range of wines with personalized tasting sheets and a personalized gift, signed by the winemaker.
Your aperitif and lunch will be a carnivorous feast at Dario Cecchini’s establishment, called the “world’s best butcher” by the New York Times. Long shared tables, pleasant atmosphere, excellent yet straightforward food combined with Dario’s unique and exuberant character make this experience a one to remember.
After lunch, you will enjoy a scenic drive through the nearby vineyards and wine villages, stopping for a visit to the perfectly manicured hill topped town of Montalcino. We will organize a VIP private visit to an artisan Brunello producer for you (generally closed to the public), followed by a fantastic vertical tasting.
Transfer back to your luxury hotel and enjoy the night in Florence on your own.
Florence – Siena
Full Breakfast at your Villa hotel, served in a historic patio, surrounded by ancient trees. This morning you will visit with your private chef Florence’s famous Mercato Centrale – San Lorenzo market, where you will taste traditional gourmet treats, meet and talk with local food producers, learn how to choose the best ingredients. You will then be ready for your hands-on cooking class with traditional, authentic recipes using the fresh ingredients you purchased.
Before sitting down to lunch with your charming host and chef, you will enjoy a professional, extra virgin olive oil tasting, and each guest will receive a gift bottle of EVO.
After lunch, you will transfer from Florence to the historic center of Siena, one of the noblest cities in Italy, home to the gorgeous 14th-century main square called the “Campo,” which is where the world-famous “Palio” race is held twice a year. You will receive a walking tour of the old town and have free time for shopping or gallery hopping.
On the way back to Florence, stop in the charming, walled medieval hamlet of Monteriggioni for a nice walk. Dante Alighieri included Monteriggioni in his most famous work, The Divine Comedy.
Florence – Palaia – Pisa – Forte dei Marmi
After breakfast, today, you will leave the city of Florence and travel west to Valdarno countryside (The Arno river valley), before arriving at the Tuscan beaches of Versilia and one of the most prestigious seaside resorts along the Tyrrhenian coast.
But first a treat in store! You will experience a real truffle hunt, with your private tartufaio (truffle hunter) and his loyal dogs. On your truffle hunt, you will learn about the precious truffles and admire the skills of expert dogs, which smell, dig, and find them. Lunch will be a truffle extravaganza, from appetizer to dessert!
After this sumptuous lunch, you explore the historic villa, gardens, and ancient cellar at Varramista estate, followed by a tasting of their wines. Giovanni Alberto Agnelli took over this estate in the 1990s, introducing the Syrah grape. Using this new varietal as well as the estates’ historic Sangiovese vines, the winery started producing high-quality wines.
Pisa is your next destination, and your private guide Alessandro will guide you through this lively small town that offers a lot more than iconic Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli.
Arrive at your waterfront hotel, check-in and evening at disposal to relax.
Forte dei Marmi - Pietrasanta – Lucca – Carrara marble quarries and Colonnata
After a full breakfast at your elegant hotel, you will meet your private dynamic art guide and begin the day with a relaxing electric bike ride to the nearby town of Pietrasanta. This quaint town is known as “Little Athens” due to the many artists that have settled down here (including Igor Mitoraj and Fernando Botero). The town is an open-air museum, with contemporary art and sculpture on display in its many galleries and piazzas.
Next, you will transfer to Lucca, where you will be given a guided tour of this beautiful walled town, which dates back to ancient Etruscan times. Lucca is filled with cobblestone streets, surrounded by a medieval wall and is the birthplace of Puccini. Admire the Romanesque churches, historic buildings, and the beautiful Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. You will fall in love with this romantic Italian gem.
Now for something completely different. A 4×4 adventure to the world-famous Carrara marble quarries. It was here that Michelangelo selected the marble for his magnificent sculptures, including the statue of David.
For lunch, you will stop in the quaint medieval hamlet of Colonnata. Colonnata is famous for its high-quality pork lard spiced with sea salt, rosemary, garlic, black pepper and cured in marble tanks, called “conche,” for at least six months.
After this delicious lunch, you will transfer back to your hotel and have some free time to relax and freshen up. Before dinner, enjoy an aperitivo, as the Italians do!
Tonight, you have a treat in store! An amazing farewell dinner with keepsake menus (signed by the chef) arranged for you paired with top quality wines.
Forte dei Marmi – next port of call
Full breakfast at your elegant hotel.
Your chauffeur will take you to where your next port of call is.
That concludes your ultra-luxury Florence Wine Tour
We can arrange extra days in Italian Riviera, Piedmont, Bologna and Emilia Romagna; please contact us for details.
Maria and Umberto Contestabile, Virginia Beach, USA
You were such a pleasure to deal with so understanding of all our issues
I can’t thank you enough for your caring and flexibility. The hotels were outstanding. The service aspect of each of the hotels was exemplary with exquisite care being given to every detail. Simone was also a delight. I was blown away by his knowledge of Florence and the Uffizi. I felt like I was walking with the encyclopedia Britannica. The restaurants…what can I possibly say? Pinchiorri is an experience one is not likely to forget. The food, the wine, the service – world class.
Ken and Phyllis Baker, Florida
This was our second trip with Cellar Tours and it was just as wonderful as our first.
Last year we toured the Prosecco region outside of Venice and this year we toured the Chianti region outside of Florence. The Chianti tour was very professionally organized and our driver was prompt and spoke English very well. Castello Di Monsanto was a wonderful experience and we were given an informative tour of their wine-producing facility. We then had a fabulous wine tasting of 3 of their delicious wines. Lunch at Albergaccio was one of the best meals we have had in Italy and this is our 3rd trip to Italy. We were given a personalized menu by the owner and had a 4-course lunch with matching wines. My wife and I travel to Europe for the food and wine, and this was definitely a highlight. We then traveled the short distance to Fonterutoli to have another wine tasting at Castello di Fonterutoli. The wines we tasted there were superb and we had a chance to purchase some. The trip was as good as we had anticipated and we hope to be traveling to Milan next year, and if we do, we will surely contact Cellar Tours to organize our third trip. We have no suggestions to give because you seem to cover everything in your tours. Thanks for everything again. Hope to contact you next year.
Phyllis Turner-Brim, Washington
Everything was exquisitely arranged and organized according to our requests.
I can’t think of anything you could have done better. The Four Seasons Florence was wonderful, worth every penny. Villa Armena – Beautifully done. The room was cozy and modern all at the same time. It was so peaceful and isolated we really enjoyed our time here. L’Andana – Jerry and I both liked this hotel the best. The combination of luxurious accommodations, spa services, and great food was outstanding. We enjoyed having champagne in the garden in the afternoon. Cibrèo in Florence was Fantastic. Really too much food, but we ate it all. The lunch at winery Beconcini – We enjoyed the homemade food and the conversation. Sauro was tremendous and took great care of us. He was punctual, courteous and professional. I have already recommended Cellar Tours to two friends. This was the most wonderful travel experience that we have ever had. We can’t even put into words how much we enjoyed our trip. Everything was organized in advance so that we didn’t have to make any decisions once we arrived. In my view, this is the only way to see Tuscany. We are looking forward to our next Cellar Tours experience!
If you would like us to customize an exclusive luxury tour, contact us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of a mininium two guests. In addition, all of our private, chauffeured tours are available year-round upon request.