Italy North & South and East & West
Umbria
Umbria: where the Etruscan, Roman, and medieval cultural heritage is still very much in evidence in every corner. You'll gain knowledge that will help us understand how this rich and bountiful land lends its own very special flavor to the prized Umbrian wines at top Umbrian wine producers in the Montefalco and Orvieto DOCG zones.
Puglia & Basilicata
A perfect combination on the eastern coast featuring the DOC zone Salice Salentino
The red wines of Puglia come primarily from the grape varieties Primitivo, Negroamaro and Uva di Troia,; the last is found most in the Castel del Monte district. Negroamaro is the primary grape used alone or in the blends in the fairly well known DOC region located in the center of the peninsula Salice Salentino.
The best white wines found in Puglia are in the Gravina region in the north not far from Basilicata whose main wine, Aglianico del Vulture, benefits from the volcanic soil of the the now exting volcano Mount Vulture.
Liguria
Featuring the 5 Terre’s exquisite Sciacchetra`, Vermentino, Bosco, and Albarola, cultivated on the most spectacular vineyards perched along breathtaking paths of the Gulf. Not to be missed, a stunning sparkling Champenoise Method wine, a blend of Blanchette, Vermentino and Cimixia, grown in vineyards close to the sea, then aged in steel cages submerged in the sea for several months!
Campania
From its capital city of Naples or the Sorrento coast, it’s a short journey to Irpinia, Benevento and Caserta areas, to sample the much appreciated Aglianico, Fiano di Avellino, Vesuvio Lacryma Christy and Greco di Tufo where the main varietals are cultivated.
Many of the grapes grown there today are descendants of the original grapes brought to Italy from Greece in ancient times. Today the grapes from Campania that are the nucleus of wines from the region are white varieties like Greco di Tufo, Coda di Volpe, Fiano, Biancolella, Falanghina as well as reds like Piedirosso and the powerful and age-worthy Aglianco which is the only wine produced in the DOCG of Taurasi.
Other notable but lesser-known Italian wine destinations include Trentino-Alto Adige, immersed in the stupendous Dolomite mountains; Calabria on the heel of Italy and a short ferry ride to Sicily; Lazio whose capital city Rome is a legend of its own, but with so much more worthy of exploration.
Wine and Music Travel will be happy to create a custom-designed program for any other Italian region of your choosing.
Additional Activities to Enhance Your Wine Experience:
Meals are served at the wine estates or exquisite local restaurants, perfectly paired with and in the company of the vintners Cooking classes focused on the rich and varied gastronomy and are in perfect harmony with the local wines. Opportunities to include other Sicily destinations.