As you empty the second or third glass of your favourite Chianti or Chardonnay and settle into a cherished Saturday evening, do you wonder about the wine's origins? Well, it’s not a big secret, here are your prayers answered, your fleeting Saturday night queries - Italy, land of la dolce vita, famous empires and operas.

 

In the rural area and cities where the Renaissance began it seems the perfect place to find a hedonistic study of the richest vineyards on earth to suit even the most sophisticated traveller like myself! After all, globally recognised in the world of wine lover’s wines paired with decadent cuisine and intertwined with the rich heritage of the Italians who produce it, it's not just another place on the globe - it's a destination filled with stories to remember long after your journey has ended.

 

Italy is an excellent destination where the sky is the limit for suitable destinations and lasting experiences. They've thought it out- from rich vineyards to renaissance accommodation. The names are all familiar: Rome, Sicily, Tuscany, Venice, Verona - but these places are more than just a name on fine Chianti or a memorable place in a theatre play. Taking a trip to the countryside and cities becomes real as you slowly tap into the taste and feel of la dolce vita.

A tranquil walking tour of the Amalfi Coast in Naples, home of outstanding wines from ancient Greek grapes, such as Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, and Fiano di Avellino, is just one unforgettable tour. Enjoy hillsides covered in lemon trees and umbrella pines, fresh seafood and the breathtaking sea that gave it life as Mt. Vesuvius rises behind you in grandiose and ancient grace.

 

If four wheels or two pedals are more to your liking you can take a ride through the countryside of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and see the dense forests and medieval castles that gave birth to wine of the same name. Try the authentic pasta fagioli prepared with real handmade pasta and porcini mushrooms that are very different to the mass industrialised Italian name labelled pasta from your local supermarket. With a full glass of Chianti from the very next vineyard in your hand as you watch the sun set across the never-ending vineyards below you; this is a first-hand Italian experience.

These customised wine and fine cuisine tours are made for individuals, lovers and groups alike, as well as offering customised tours and additional single accommodation. Designed to amaze the most inexperienced, as well as the smartest wine connoisseur and gourmet, I personally recommend tours between May and November.  

 

Take your time and book at least one to two weeks or even longer tours in order to sufficiently dive into Bella Italia, who knows you may decide not to come back and relocate for good like George Clooney and other la dolce vita enthusiasts. Be assured, I won´t blame you for doing that, ciao!

 

We did something similar in the Reims area of France sampling Champagne - not as expensive as it sounds, although do shop around for the best deals or you could end up paying tourist prices!

I did the same sampling ciders in Somerset and Kent. So dry that they almost tasted the same as flat champagne. It was very relaxing, I was near to home, and I could understand the regional dialect, which were bonuses. The ciders ranged in strength and taste - different apples and pear mixtures. Very, very nice experience, and I am pretty sure that if I asked, they would have let me camp for the night.