Italy’s Flavours & Vineyards

Italy’s Flavours & Vineyards

From the Alps of Piedmont to the gentle hills of Tuscany, passing through the Po Valley and the Apennines of Emilia-Romagna, we invite you on a gastronomic and wine-themed odyssey through Northern Italy, designed for epicureans. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy this gourmet journey. Follow our guides as they lead you through cities deeply rooted in their culinary traditions, introduce you to artisanal producers eager to share their passion for local terroir, and take you to meet winemakers who will welcome you to taste the finest vintages from their estates.

Rates

Tour dates for the specialized tour in 2026:

  • September 15 – 26, 2026

Price
Price per person, in CAD, based on double occupancy:

  • Reserve before March 31, 2026: $8,299
  • Reserve before April 30, 2026: $8,449
  • Regular price: $8,549

Cash payment discount: – $300

Single room supplement: $1,630

No optional excursions included

Prices are based on economy-class air travel with Air Canada

The prices include:

  • Air transportation Montreal/Milan–Florence/Montreal with connections
  • Air-conditioned coach transportation suitable for the group size
  • French-speaking guide service from arrival in Milan until departure from Florence
  • Individual headsets for guided tours
  • Accommodation in double rooms
  • Taxes and tips at hotels and for included meals
  • Meals included: 10 continental buffet breakfasts + 1 lunch with wine tasting in Roero + 1 “spuntino” lunch with wine in Barolo + 1 country-style lunch with wine on a farm + 1 Tuscan lunch with wine, coffee, and grappa + 1 wine-tasting lunch in Chianti + 1 Piedmontese dinner with wine at a cooking school + 1 dinner with wine in Reggio Emilia + 1 welcome dinner with wine and coffee + 1 farewell dinner in Florence with wine and coffee

Guided visits (with local guides) to:

  • Parma, Bologna, Siena, and Florence

City/Orientation Tours:

  • Turin, Alba, Asti, Pollenzo, Bra, La Morra, Barolo, and Montepulciano

Special Experiences:

  • Truffle hunting in the Piedmont forests with truffle product tasting
  • Visit to a winery with Roero wine tasting
  • Wine talk and tasting of Langhe and Roero wines
  • Visit to Grinzane Cavour Castle (audio guide)
  • Piedmont wine tasting in Barolo
  • Guided visit to Racconigi Castle
  • Cooking class in Piedmont
  • Visit to a winery with sparkling wine tasting
  • Visit and tasting at a Parmesan producer
  • Cooking workshop on a farm in Emilia-Romagna
  • Visit and tasting at a balsamic vinegar producer
  • Visit and tasting at a Parma ham producer
  • Guided tour of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello
  • Visit to wine cellars and tasting in Montepulciano

Airport taxes: $895

DAY 1 – MONTRÉAL: DEPARTURE

Meet at Montréal airport for your overnight flight to Europe with connection; meals served on board.

DAY 2 – MILAN – TURIN – BRA (215 KM)

Arrival at Milan airport. You will be greeted by your guide and driver before departing for Piedmont, a region in northwestern Italy bordered on three sides by the highest peaks of the Alps and the hills of the Apennines. The region is renowned for its rich and full-bodied red wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as sparkling wines like Moscato and Asti Spumante, which have greatly contributed to its international fame.

Upon arrival in Turin, the former royal city of the House of Savoy, enjoy a free lunch followed by a panoramic tour of the city, host of the 2006 Winter Olympics. In the afternoon, continue to the Roero region and the town of Bra, birthplace of the Slow Food movement, which promotes culinary traditions and sustainable agriculture. Check in to your hotel for a four-night stay. Welcome dinner included.

(Meal: Dinner)

DAY 3 – BRA: EXCURSION IN THE ROERO (50 KM)

Begin the day with a forest walk accompanied by a trifolau (truffle hunter) and his scent-detecting dog, learning the techniques of truffle hunting, a product celebrated by chefs and gastronomes worldwide. The activity concludes with a tasting of products made from this precious “diamond of Piedmont.”

Next, visit a local winemaker’s cellar for a guided tour and tasting of Roero wines selected by the house sommelier, followed by a tasting lunch. In the afternoon, explore the historic district of Pollenzo. The Castello di Pollenzo, now home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences, was founded by Carlo Petrini, creator of the Slow Food movement.

Return to your hotel for a discussion on local wines, accompanied by a tasting of Langhe and Roero wines paired with regional products.

(Meals: Breakfast / Tasting Lunch)

DAY 4 – BRA: EXCURSION TO THE LANGHE & ALBA (100 KM)

Begin with a walking tour of Bra before departing for a scenic hike through the Langhe, a landscape of rolling vineyards dotted with castles and fortresses. This unique wine region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit La Morra for breathtaking panoramic views, then explore the imposing Grinzane Cavour Castle, home to the regional wine library managed by the Order of the Knights of Truffle and Wines of Alba. Continue to the historic wine-producing village of Barolo, namesake of one of Italy’s greatest red wines. Enjoy a tasting and light lunch (spuntino) at a local producer, followed by a tour of the village. Continue to Alba for a walking tour of this gastronomic hub, renowned for its white truffles, before returning to the hotel.

(Meals: Breakfast / Lunch)

DAY 5 – BRA: EXCURSION FROM RACCONIGI TO ASTI (130 KM)

Depart for the Royal Castle of Racconigi, a former military fortress transformed into a summer residence by the House of Savoy and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue toward Asti, traveling through the hills and vineyards of Roero and Monferrato, arriving in the Tamaro River valley.

Enjoy a free lunch, then explore the historic center of Asti, a Roman-origin town famously associated with Moscato and sparkling wines. In the late afternoon, participate in a hands-on cooking workshop led by a local chef, preparing traditional Piedmontese specialties. Conclude with a dinner featuring the dishes you’ve prepared, paired with local wines.

(Meals: Breakfast / Dinner)

DAY 6 – BRA – CANELLI – PARMA – REGGIO EMILIA (275 KM)

Travel to Canelli, nestled among the vineyards of the Langhe. Visit a renowned producer of Asti Spumante and enjoy a tasting of sparkling wines. Leave Piedmont and head toward Emilia-Romagna, a region stretching from the Apennines to the fertile Po River delta and the Adriatic coast. Free lunch en route.

Upon arrival in Parma, enjoy a guided tour of this elegant city with provincial charm, known for its remarkable Romanesque episcopal complex. Continue to your hotel in Reggio Emilia for a typical regional dinner.

(Meals: Breakfast / Dinner)

DAY 7 – REGGIO EMILIA: EXCURSION IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA (90 KM)

Discover the culinary highlights of Emilia-Romagna. Visit a producer of Parmigiano Reggiano to learn about the long maturation process and craftsmanship that make this cheese unique. Participate in preparing a rustic countryside lunch in the setting of a historic family farm. Explore the farm’s traditional facilities, including its vinegar production, followed by a tasting of homemade balsamic vinegar.

Conclude with a visit and tasting at a producer of Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello di Canossa. The secret of this prosciutto lies in its simple ingredients—pork leg and salt—combined with the fresh air of the Enza Valley hills. Return to the hotel in the evening; evening at leisure.

(Meals: Breakfast / Lunch)

DAY 8 – REGGIO EMILIA – MARANELLO – BOLOGNA – SIENA (250 KM)

Travel to Maranello, where Enzo Ferrari established his factory in 1945. Enjoy a guided tour of the Ferrari Museum, showcasing legendary cars that shaped the brand’s racing history worldwide. Continue to Bologna for a free lunch and a guided tour of the city, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, famed for its 37 km of arcades.

Drive to Tuscany and the historic city of Siena. Check in to your hotel; dinner is on your own.

(Meal: Breakfast)

DAY 9 – SIENA: EXCURSION TO MONTEPULCIANO AND MONTALCINO (150 KM)

Depart for Montepulciano for an orientation tour of this Tuscan hilltop town, known for its Renaissance palaces and Vino Nobile. Visit local wineries for tastings. Continue to Montalcino, a small perched town in the Orcia Valley, famous for its vineyards producing Brunello di Montalcino. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch paired with local wine. After a free visit of the fortified town, return to Siena in the evening.

(Meals: Breakfast / Lunch)

DAY 10 – SIENA – CHIANTI – FLORENCE (85 KM)

Guided walking tour of Siena through its winding streets to the cathedral and the Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city. Depart for an excursion in the Chianti hills, a world-renowned wine region celebrated for its landscapes and the birthplace of the famous grape variety. Explore the countryside dotted with Romanesque churches, hilltop castles, simple farms, beautiful villas, and charming medieval villages.

Enjoy a lunch with wine tasting at a Chianti estate. Continue to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Check in to your hotel; evening at leisure.

(Meals: Breakfast / Lunch)

DAY 11 – FLORENCE: VISIT

Guided walking tour of Florence, city of Michelangelo and the Medici. Discover the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Cathedral, Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and more. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner featuring Florentine specialties, reminiscing about the highlights of your journey.

(Meals: Breakfast / Dinner)

DAY 12 – FLORENCE – MONTRÉAL

Transfer to Florence airport for your return flight to Montréal with connection; meals served on board.

(Meal: Breakfast)


Meal Key:
PDB – Buffet-style continental breakfast / L – Lunch / D – Dinner

When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.

Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.

Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.

So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.

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