Did someone say WINE?!?!?
Yes. Yes I did.
My favorite places for an authentic wine experience? Portugal and Italy.
Surrounded by beautiful water and amazing vineyards, you can't get much better than this. Portugal is home to over 250 types of native grapes, making this one of the most vast wine regions in the world.
Italy is one of the largest producing wine countries in the world and has been making wine for over 4,000 years... now that is something to brag about. This is largely due to the climate of Italy... it is a breeding ground for the grapes and vineyards to flourish.
So should you go to Portugal or Italy? My answer is...
Every country has different highlights... that is what makes each on special. Here is a quick bullet point itinerary of what each trip could look like.
Budget: 10K
Duration: 10 days
Time of Year: Summer
Italy
Day 1: Arrive into Rome
Day 2: History and art tour including the Vatican and Colosseum
Day 3: Pasta making class with wine tasting in Rome
Day 4: Make your way towards Florence and meet your private guide for a walking city tour
Day 5: Head into the hills of Tuscany with your private guide for a wine making experience and vineyard tour
Day 6: Food and Wine tasting in Florence
Day 7: Make your way towards Venice and set sail in a Gondola through the Venetian Canals
Day 8: 3hr walking tour of Venice with Gelato tastings
Day 9: Day at Leisure in Venice
Day 10: Fly home
Portugal
Day 1: Arrive into Lisbon
Day 2: Private Insider Walk Through Lisbon's Roots, Food & Culture
Day 3: Day trip to Sintra with a private guide
Day 4: Fly to Porto and meet your local expert guide for a Fabulous Insiders Vintage Foodie Tour of Porto
Day 5: Day trip to the Douro Valley with a cruise down the Douro River, vineyard visit and wine tasting
Day 6: Enjoy the first half of the day at leisure. In the evening, meet your instructor for a port wine making class followed by a traditional dinner.
Day 7: Fly to Algarve
Day 8: Small group cave highlight cruise in Algarve with Lunch and Drinks
Day 9: Day at leisure to enjoy Portugal's Beaches
Day 10: Fly home
So who's ready to get started? Click HERE to get started on your European Vineyard Vacation!