Wine and Art in Veneto, Italy

Sept 22-29, 2009

Maximum of 14 travelers

 

 

 

Discover the northeast of Italy through its wines, culinary traditions and the richness of its art.

The tour is based in Padua with daily trips in the surrounding area. The cities we will be visiting include Padua, Verona and a magical river boat trip to Venice. We will also visit small villages in the wine areas of Valpolicella (Amarone, Ripasso), Colli Eugeani, and Conegliano (Prosecco and Spumante).

The trip will blend wine tasting with art and cultural experiences. We will also present wine tastings of other Italian regions (Tuscany, Piedmont, etc.)

You do not need to be a connoisseur to enjoy this trip. On the other hand, you do need to like wine, food culture and art to fully enjoy this experience.

 

Your 7 day - 6 night tour includes:

·         The service of two English-speaking guides (one wine expert and one native of Padua)

·         Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach, train and boat rides except when mentioned

·         7 nights at a 3-Star hotel with 7 breakfasts included

·         5 luncheons and 5 dinners at local restaurants

·         All wine producer, olive oil producer tours and tastings

·         Guided tours of Padua and Verona, with visits to the museums and monument in those two cities

·         Private wine tastings for the group on the days when not visiting wineries

·         All taxes and gratuities for baggage handling and meals included

 

 

Itinerary Details:

Print this program

 

 

Saturday September 15:

On the first day, we meet at the Venice airport at 2:00 pm (closest international airport to Padua) for transfer to your 3-Star hotel (Hotel Sant’Antonio) in Padua. Other arrangements are also possible, depending on your arrival plans. Once settled down at the hotel, enjoy an orientation presentation on the trip, the city of Padua, the wine areas we will be visiting, the arts and culture of Northern Italy and a first mini wine tasting, including techniques and advice. We will then walk through the old town to a typical northern Italian restaurant for a welcome dinner.

 

Sunday September 16:

Visit Venice today and arrive by boat from the sea. Our tour will start by a short bus ride from the hotel to the Brenta river, where we board a small boat.  Our journey takes us by 50+ villas once the property of the Venetian nobility. We will visit three villas on the way to Venice and have lunch on the banks of the river at a local restaurant.

    

              Villa Pisani                                         Venice

Once arrived in Venice at the end of the afternoon, a bus takes us back to Padua for a dinner on your own. You can opt to stay in Venice for dinner and take the train back to Padua. (Dinner and train not included in package.)

 

Monday September 17:

Morning and lunch on your own in Padua.  In the early afternoon, we will tour the old town of Padua with a specialized historian as guide. Our visits include a number of landmarks such as the Basilica of Saint Anthony, the Scrovegni Chapel painted by Giotto, and the historic center of the city. After these visits, we will assemble for a Piedmont wine tasting followed by a dinner in a local restaurant.

 

Tuesday September 18:

Visit one of the most renowned wine areas of Italy. We will go to the Valpolicella area and visit top Amarone, Ripasso and Bardolino houses, such as Allegrini and Tommasi. We will have lunch at the restaurant of one the wineries. In the mid-afternoon, we will go to the Garda Lake for a sunset dinner by the water.

                            

Amarone grapes drying                        Garda Lake

 

Wednesday September 19:

Visit the Colli Euganei, a region of small hills outside Padua, and discover a way of life close to nature. Our tour takes us to an olive oil farm with olive oil tasting. Before lunch, we will settle down in a field, and spread out a tablecloth for a Tuscan wine tasting pre-lunch. We will then have lunch at a local restaurant. This is followed by a visit to a museum of village culture and farming. Finally, we have an early dinner at a local enoteca (wine bar) that carries all the wines from the Colli Euganei wineries.

     

              Colli Euganei                                 Verona

 

Thursday September 20:

En route to Verona by train, where we discover the many cultural sites of the city, including the renowned Arena, the Roman theater and museum, and the splendid cathedral. We can split up into two groups, depending on interests. We will all meet for a lunch in one of the typical Verona restaurants.   In the afternoon we will visit Castelvecchio, a spectacular Scaligeri family castle on the banks of the river Adige . Dinner back in Padua is on your own.

 

Friday September 21:

For our last trip to the wine country, we will go to Trentino. On the way there, we stop at Santa Margherita and tour the winery with the CEO. We then visit the village of Conegliano and a couple of Prosecco wineries.  We’ll have lunch in the village and visit an organic and biodynamic winery to learn the differences between this and traditional viticulture and wine making. Back in Padua, we attend a farewell gourmet dinner.

       

            Prosecco Winery                        Colli Conegliano

 

Saturday September 22:

Transfer back to Venice Airport or personal trip extension at your discretion.    

 

 

 

For reservations or more information (Detailed Brochure / Terms and Conditions) :

Contact us at vacations@giramondowine.com This tour is operated by a partner of GiraMondo Wine adventures, specializing in wine vacations all around the world. This company accepts VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover cards or checks / money orders denominated in US dollars.