The Enchanting Land of the Great White Wines of Italy
Friuli Venezia Giulia is the most North Eastern region of Italy, in border with Austria, Slovenia, Veneto region and the Adriatic sea, crossroad of many cultures, disputed border land, place of several wars and gateway to East of Europe.
Despite several enchanting lifting landscapes of its territory including sandy coastal beaches and lagoon in the south, lakes and Dolomites in the north, rocky hills in the east; the diversity of this beautiful landscape is still unknown and unexplored by tourists. However, wine lovers know the wonderful wines produced by Friuli, that can be defined “a dream come true” for white wine lovers.
Despite several enchanting lifting landscapes of its territory including sandy coastal beaches and lagoon in the south, lakes and Dolomites in the north, rocky hills in the east; the diversity of this beautiful landscape is still unknown and unexplored by tourists. However, wine lovers know the wonderful wines produced by Friuli, that can be defined “a dream come true” for white wine lovers.
If you think of more than thirty different wine varieties, among which there are 10 DOC and 4 DOCG areas, it is easy to understand that you find yourself in a special place!
Have you ever tasted Tocai Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Vitovska, Verduzzo Friulano, Malvasia, Picolit or Ribolla Gialla? These are just some of the most important indigenous wines of the area creating a fragrant, elegant and captivating atmosphere. Also red wines are very good and important in this region: Schioppettino, Refosco, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvigno, Merlot, Tazzelenghe, Terrano are just some of them.
Most of these are indigenous wines from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Have you ever tasted Tocai Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Vitovska, Verduzzo Friulano, Malvasia, Picolit or Ribolla Gialla? These are just some of the most important indigenous wines of the area creating a fragrant, elegant and captivating atmosphere. Also red wines are very good and important in this region: Schioppettino, Refosco, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvigno, Merlot, Tazzelenghe, Terrano are just some of them.
Most of these are indigenous wines from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Scroll down (gray area) to see price and detailed information for this tour.
Included in the price:
• 5 nights in central 4 star hotel in double room with breakfast
• 9 meals with local wines included
• 1 cooking class (followed by dinner)
• 6 winery visits
• 6 wine tastings
• visit to a prosciutto di San Daniele factory
• visit to a wine plants-nursery
• excursions to Cividale, Cormons, Gorizia, Castello di Miramare, Palmanova, Aquileia, Grado, Trieste
• 5 nights in central 4 star hotel in double room with breakfast
• 9 meals with local wines included
• 1 cooking class (followed by dinner)
• 6 winery visits
• 6 wine tastings
• visit to a prosciutto di San Daniele factory
• visit to a wine plants-nursery
• excursions to Cividale, Cormons, Gorizia, Castello di Miramare, Palmanova, Aquileia, Grado, Trieste
• private car/minibus with driver for all the excursions
• private transfers from Udine train station to central hotel in Udine and viceversa
• Marcello (or/and Raffaella) as tour guides during all the tour
Not included:
• Flight ticket
• Personal expenses
• Everything not written in the program
• Cancellation insurance
• Local taxes (city taxes)
• private transfers from Udine train station to central hotel in Udine and viceversa
• Marcello (or/and Raffaella) as tour guides during all the tour
Not included:
• Flight ticket
• Personal expenses
• Everything not written in the program
• Cancellation insurance
• Local taxes (city taxes)
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2017 Dates:
08-13 October 2018 Dates: 07-12 October This tour is also available upon request in other periods of the year. Contact us if these dates do not fit in your schedule. |
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Price Per Person
Euros €2490 based on double occupancy. Single supplement - Euros 180 Plan Your Tour Today! Minimum of 4 participants. |
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• 5 nights in 4 star hotel
• 9 meals with local wines • 1 cooking class • 6 winery visits • 6 wine tastings • prosciutto San Daniele visit • guided visits of Trieste, Cividale, Gorizia • And Much More! (see Itinerary) |
ITINERARY
Sunday -- Get settled, enjoy a welcome dinner at a winery, and receive an introduction to Friuli Venezia Giulia
We will meet at the Udine train station and provide private transfer to your elegant hotel, in a beautiful building in the center of Udine. We can organize alternate transportation upon request if you arrive from other places. Venice is one hour and thirty minutes driving.
Upon arriving at the hotel, settle into your rooms. In the late afternoon walking in the center for a short sightseeing of the charming city. Aperitif at a traditional bar, your introduction to the best white wines of Italy.
In the evening, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner together at a great Osteria in the center. The menu will be on traditional foods and some of the local wines.
Monday - Visit Cividale, Cormons, Gorizia and taste the great wines of the Collio area
In the morning short driving to Cividale, a very pretty little town very close to the border of Slovenia. It was founded by Giulio Cesare in the Roman period, then it had a very intricate and interesting history. Since 2011 it is a UNESCO site.
Walking in the center with a guide, then departure to visit an amazing historical winery with an incredible panoramic view on the valley. Wine tasting.
Drive to Cormons another little village nearby, the “capital” of the Collio area, beautiful hills, perfect for growing vineyards Lunch, at the local Enoteca.
Drive to visit a beautiful family winery and taste their wonderful wines.
We drive to Gorizia for a guided visit of the pretty town, that was divided into two parts (Slovenia and Italy) by a wall, that was destroyed on 2004, when Slovenia became part of Europe.
Back to Udine, where we will have dinner at a delightful trattoria.
Tuesday – Wine tasting in Carso area, Miramare Castle, Lunch, Guided visit Trieste, dinner in Udine
This day is dedicated to the visit of Trieste, the capital of the region Friuli Venezia Giulia, and its area.
Departure in the morning towards Trieste.
On the way we stop at a winery in the “Carso” (that means rocky) a narrow strip of land between the hills and the sea. The soil is very rocky and full of minerals that, together with the special microclimate, give to its wines a strong personality.
The winery produces great wines and there is an amazing view from the hills to the Adriatic sea.
After a wine tasting we drive to Castello di Miramare, a wonderful white castle, built in 1860, that stands on the peak of the rocky promontory in the Gulf of Trieste. You will take great photos form there.
Then drive to Trieste, the Italian capital of coffee. Trieste, due to the fact that it was the port for the arrival of colonial goods (among others, coffee) is famous for its antique and fascinating cafe/bar and our lunch will be at one of these.
After lunch, guided walking in this unique city, with mitteleuropean traditions.
Free time, then we drive back to our hotel in Udine.
Dinner in Udine.
Wednesday – Taste a great Italian prosciutto San Daniele, Lunch, Amanuensis, barbatelle, cooking class and dinner
Departure to San Daniele del Friuli, a little town very famous for the Prosciutto di San Daniele. Visit of the factory, to see all the steps for making the prosciutto so delicate, then lunch based on prosciutto and other local delicacies.
Drive to a little town nearby to visit a school where they teach how to handwrite books in the antique style as the “amanuensis” monks.
After the visit we drive to another little town nearby, the world largest wine-nursery complex, where they collect and grow all the baby wine plants (international and indigenous plants) and sell them all over the world. Wine tasting at a nearby winery.
Then we proceed to an amazing agriturismo for our cooking class, followed by dinner of our creations. As they are also wine producers, we will taste some of their wines too.
Back to our hotel in Udine.
Thursday – Visit to Palmanova, Aquileia, Lunch "colazione italiana", wine tasting, Grado
In the late morning we leave to Palmanova, ideal city of the Renaissance, with the shape of a nine-pointed star, built to be a fortress for the Venetians against the Ottoman Empire. There is an incredibly huge square in the center of the little village. We will do a short walk around, then stop at a beautiful bar, winner of the prize “Best Bar of Italy 2014”. There we will have a great “colazione italiana” a sort of lunch that includes sweet and salted dishes, all beautifully presented, freshly made and very tasty.After lunch we drive to Aquileia -another UNESCO site- to visit the Basilica and its magnificent 4th-Century mosaics.
We proceed to visit another local winery and wine tasting.
Then we drive to Grado, a little town on the Adriatic sea, surrounded by an extended lagoon, that offers a special landscape full of beautiful colors. After a walking along the port-channel that arrives in the center of the little town, we will have a fantastic farewell fish dinner with local fresh fish.
Back to our hotel in Udine.
Friday– Departure day
Departure after breakfast.
Then drive to Trieste, the Italian capital of coffee. Trieste, due to the fact that it was the port for the arrival of colonial goods (among others, coffee) is famous for its antique and fascinating cafe/bar and our lunch will be at one of these.
After lunch, guided walking in this unique city, with mitteleuropean traditions.
Free time, then we drive back to our hotel in Udine.
Dinner in Udine.
Wednesday – Taste a great Italian prosciutto San Daniele, Lunch, Amanuensis, barbatelle, cooking class and dinner
Departure to San Daniele del Friuli, a little town very famous for the Prosciutto di San Daniele. Visit of the factory, to see all the steps for making the prosciutto so delicate, then lunch based on prosciutto and other local delicacies.
Drive to a little town nearby to visit a school where they teach how to handwrite books in the antique style as the “amanuensis” monks.
After the visit we drive to another little town nearby, the world largest wine-nursery complex, where they collect and grow all the baby wine plants (international and indigenous plants) and sell them all over the world. Wine tasting at a nearby winery.
Then we proceed to an amazing agriturismo for our cooking class, followed by dinner of our creations. As they are also wine producers, we will taste some of their wines too.
Back to our hotel in Udine.
Thursday – Visit to Palmanova, Aquileia, Lunch "colazione italiana", wine tasting, Grado
In the late morning we leave to Palmanova, ideal city of the Renaissance, with the shape of a nine-pointed star, built to be a fortress for the Venetians against the Ottoman Empire. There is an incredibly huge square in the center of the little village. We will do a short walk around, then stop at a beautiful bar, winner of the prize “Best Bar of Italy 2014”. There we will have a great “colazione italiana” a sort of lunch that includes sweet and salted dishes, all beautifully presented, freshly made and very tasty.After lunch we drive to Aquileia -another UNESCO site- to visit the Basilica and its magnificent 4th-Century mosaics.
We proceed to visit another local winery and wine tasting.
Then we drive to Grado, a little town on the Adriatic sea, surrounded by an extended lagoon, that offers a special landscape full of beautiful colors. After a walking along the port-channel that arrives in the center of the little town, we will have a fantastic farewell fish dinner with local fresh fish.
Back to our hotel in Udine.
Friday– Departure day
Departure after breakfast.
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This was my fifth tour with Raffa and Marcello, and all have been wonderful. The Prosecco region of 15 towns in the Veneto outside Venice is a special place. Rolling hills of vineyards and wineries are tranquil and beautiful. We sampled the products of many wineries including prize winners. The production is strictly controlled for quality and only those wines meeting the standard are given the DOC or DOCG. Our tour ate delicious food including local cheeses and radicchio. Raffa and Marcello treated our small group like family, and I think of them as family. You can't go wrong with them, but this tour was really special.
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This was our third tour with Bluone and once again it was as close to perfect as a vacation could be, save a bit of rain. But even that didn't dampen our spirits -- we just ate! (and drank..) Marcello (owner of Bluone ) booked us into the lovely Villa Soligo, where the owner graciously offered s a glass of the house Prosecco within minutes of our arrival. Our room was great, the daily breakfast exactly right and the grounds lovely. The Villa had a pool for relaxing time, but Marcello kept us busy with tours and tastings at Prosecco wineries both big and small -- we especially.loved the small, family owned wineries. For my fellow geographically challenged Americans, we may forget that Northern Italy is so close to the Alps. One vinter answered my question about how grapes (and tropical looking foliage!) grow at this elevation by explaining hat the Apls block the cold air from eastern Europe, creating a most delightful micro-climate in this region. Perfect for growing glara, the grape of Prosecco and perfect for and a very delightful food and wine tour. As usual,Marcello hired a local professional driver, and had a local tour guide meet us in each town we visited. The restaurants were superb. Our farewell dinner was at a restaurant very near the Villa, and after experiencing the wonderful food and one of the most exquisite deserts ever, I believe the story that that Marcello Mastrioni traveled there from Roma for the fine cuisine. This was a delightful trip, filled with charming surprises, expert guidance and wonderful food. Highly recommend!
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