Author-Led Wine and Gastronomic Tours with Historic Estate Stays

Below are 10 unique wine and gastronomic tours, each emphasizing culture, taste, and exclusive experiences, with stays in historic or private estates. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and include accommodations, select meals, tastings, and guided activities.

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Tuscan Vines & Renaissance Retreat

Price: $4,500
Duration: 7 days
Description: Explore Tuscany’s rolling hills with visits to Chianti Classico wineries and organic olive oil farms. Enjoy truffle hunting in San Miniato and a private cooking class with a Michelin-starred chef. Stay in a 15th-century Medici villa, complete with frescoed ceilings and a private vineyard tour. Evening harp concerts add a touch of Renaissance elegance. 

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Rioja’s Heritage & Tapas Trail

Price: $3,800
Duration: 5 days
Description: Immerse in Spain’s Rioja region with visits to ancient wineries and modern bodegas. Savor pintxos at local markets and join a tapas-making workshop. Stay in a restored 18th-century nobleman’s estate with a private bullring, where flamenco performances light up the evenings. 

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Piedmont Truffle & Barolo Bliss

Price: $5,000
Duration: 7 days
Description: Dive into Italy’s Piedmont region, home to Barolo wines and white truffles. Hunt truffles with a trifolao and his dog, followed by tastings of aged cheeses. Stay in a 19th-century aristocratic estate with a private library, offering exclusive opera recitals in the grand salon. 

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Price: $4,800
Duration: 6 days
Description: Cruise Portugal’s Douro River, stopping at quintas for Port wine tastings and farm-to-table meals. Learn to bake traditional pastéis de nata and explore historic Porto. Stay in a 17th-century manor with terraced vineyards, featuring nightly fado music performances. 

Price: $4,300
Duration: 6 days
Description: Tour the Loire Valley’s iconic châteaux and savor Chenin Blanc at boutique wineries. Visit local dairies for goat cheese tastings and join a bread-making workshop. Stay in a Renaissance-era château with a private moat, where costumed history tours bring the past to life. 

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Catalonia Cava & Coastal Culinary Quest