Private Wine Tours in Italy

Nicholas & Veronica Brownlee, Massachusetts

The organization of the trip was excellent.

Everything worked, Stefano was always early or on time. There were no snafus for hotel reservations or restaurant reservations. Everyone was expecting us. The winery tastings and tours were well organized. I have already recommended cellar tours to several people in the week since I returned. Everything that was under your control worked. The choices of hotels were excellent but could have been better situated. You exceeded my expectations several times throughout the week. Wow!! We know how much work goes into planning this kind of trip. We appreciate your attention to the details.

Sharon Pulse, Washington

We can’t say enough how much we thoroughly enjoyed our trip.

One of the wonderful things about our trip was once we had gone through the planning stage and had come up with an itinerary, our work was done. You made all the reservations for our accommodations, directing us to the “right” wineries, fabulous restaurants, and our Drivers Sauro and Stefano, who were wonderful, were always on time, took great care in calling ahead to let the wineries and restaurants know when we would be arriving, and drove very professionally on some very interesting roads!! For two people who always are in charge to be able to sit back and enjoy beautiful Tuscany and Verona was “magical!”. We came home rested and that is saying something after all the wineries we visited!

Steve Beutler, California

The organization was great, and it flowed well.

The accommodations were perfect in terms of location and staff friendliness. Inn at Spanish Steps checked us in early and provided breakfast. Meals were very good, some memorable. Altesino served fresh and delicious food that paired well with their wine. The tasting room atmosphere enhanced the experience. Sassicaia lunch was delicious with good wine pairings. Roscioli provided an unusual, fun, and educational dining experience with fresh and delicious food. Il Palazzone winery in Montalcino, introduced by you, was a great discovery. Laura, the hostess, generously poured older vintages not on the tasting. The trip was wonderful and couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Thanks again, Gen!

Joleen Lauffer

We very much enjoyed our trip and are very pleased with Cellar Tours!

The experience was excellent and the order of events was well thought out. The wine tours were absolutely fabulous. Better than expected. Each tour was unique and we experienced a nice variety of tours and locations and people, so it was perfect

Alan & Susy Deeble, Australia

I would like on behalf of Susy and myself thank you most sincerely for such a wonderful holiday.

There is a bond between winemakers/viticultures and cheese makers that cross country borders and hemispheres, we gained so much from the visits to vineyards and cheese facilities that I can’t adequately describe. Highlights The Parmigiano Reggiano Visit with the owner, The special visit to the Pecorino cheesemakers that you made happen for us. The bond of farmer/winemakers such as Beconcini Estate with Eva and Leo, Ciro and Stephanie at Biondi were so welcoming and genuine to us …..I will never forget their hospitality. I guess if it was the inspiration I craved then I have received more than I could have possibly hoped for …..Thank you. Special memories such as Stefano our driver that began our voyage of discovery and ended our trip, Another Stefano that drove us in Florence ……just very special people. Best restaurants ……No. 1 Due Colombe great food, great atmosphere, very good sommelier. great start to our holiday. No. 2 Don Carlos- great food, great atmosphere, a very special welcome. No. 3 Quadri, Venice- Romantic. Other highlights the cooking class in Bologna and the Tuscan home of Pamela and the Truffle hunt and subsequent cooking lesson, all just wonderful. We stayed in a Palace, in some of the best locations and in some of the best hotels in Italy all easy to walk to. I guess for me it was the trip of a lifetime. The places I have singled out were very special to me however we went to so many amazing places they were all very good. Once again thank you for providing us with a holiday that we will always remember.

Wayne Sharp, California, USA

We were very pleased with the tour. Both Simona and Luigi are first-class folks and were attentive to all our needs and wants

I was especially pleased with the hotels and inns where we stayed, and I was pleased that we had 3 nights in two of the hotels. The highlight, I think all will agree, was Roagna. Luca was great, and his grandma cooked our lunch. Poggio Antico was also great. I liked Simona very much. She has extensive knowledge about wine, as well as history. She knew exactly where to take us to find what we wanted (like the ceramics shop in Florence). Overall, she did a first-class job for us. The marble artist was also a highlight. Once again, this is something we never would have seen on our own. And the cooking class—terrific! Such a different experience from the others. And the setting was perfect. Your service is impeccable, your knowledge of your product is immense, and your contacts are invaluable. I’ve run out of adjectives!

Sally Kiernan, Los Angeles

Well for starters we loved our guide Sonia!

Well for starters we loved our guide, Sonia! She was pleasant, punctual, flexible and most of all, knowledgeable! Could not have had a better guide! Also loved the hunting for truffles with the truffle hunter and his dogs…Diana the girl dog did all the work!! The restaurants we went to for luncheon were probably a little too much food for us, but better at lunch than dinner…a bit more rustic would have been a bit more fun or perhaps alternate, fancy, rustic, fancy…however, the food and service were ALWAYS superb! We enjoyed the pace of each day – a reasonable start time and at a pleasant pace…not too rushed, just nice…You are more than welcome to use my Glowing comments! Thank you again!!

Lynne Teckman, USA

Perfect, Perfect, Perfect

Gen planned a perfect Italian wine focused trip that can only be described as once in a lifetime. We visited Piedmont and Bolgheri wine regions visiting the most exclusive wineries. We stayed in the most lovely hotels and ate at incredible restaurants. Next time we need to plan a European trip I will be sure to reach out to Cellar Tours.

Ken and Phyllis Baker, Florida

We had another incredible time in Italy

This is the 3rd and 4th times we have used your company to take side trips when we vacationed in Italy. These last 2 times were in conjunction with our vacation in Naples. We had a tour of Cantina del Vesuvio with a wine tasting and lunch. To sit there and see the vineyard and eat lunch at the base of Mt Vesuvio is a once in a lifetime experience. The second tour was a trip to Amalfi for a limoncello tour. We then had a cooking class with their wonderful family. They were all so friendly and welcoming. We then went to a farm to watch cheese being made. We got to taste mozzarella made in front of us. The Amalfi coast is beautiful and the things my wife and I got to do and see will stay with us forever. We would recommend Cellar Tours to everybody!

Roger West

Hands down, the best vacation we’ve ever had

Simona, Genevieve – thanks again for everything you and Cellar Tours did to set up an incredible two weeks in Italy. Hands down, the best vacation we’ve ever had and I can’t wait to work with you guys again the next time! Everything just worked, it was planned well and we enjoyed top notch accommodations and tours the entire time. I cannot recommend Cellar Tours highly enough! We loved all the food, and all the wine tours we did during the tour and the variety of other tours, all with outstanding local guides, also worked really well. And on top of that, both of our drivers during the trip, Masamilliano (Max), and Francesco, were fantastic. They took care of everything whenever they drove for us and were good friends as well by the time we returned home.

Arlene Hubbell

We are already planning to return

The entire planning process of our Italy tour was effortless, even though it took a couple of years due to Covid. Our tour went smoothly and yes, we were very happy overall. One of our favorite things about Cellar Tours is the attention to detail. We never have to worry about where we are going, or when we leave; all the plans are set into motion the minute we arrive. This makes our trip so much more enjoyable.
All of the accommodations were excellent. Each of the rooms had gorgeous views and the entire staff was very obliging. Service was exceptional.Italy is known for their delicious food, and this trip held no exception. Each meal was appetizing and the presentation was perfect. The wine was paired nicely and again, we loved every meal. We attempted to follow your recommendations when on our own with some success. However, we were able to find our own gems too. We can’t decide which meal/restaurant was our favorite because they each had a distinct quality of their own. This is attributed to Cellar Tours’ attention to detail. We can’t say enough kind words about our driver, Sebastiano. He was punctual, friendly and very professional. We were impressed with his English and really enjoyed spending time with him. Cellar Tours has always chosen quality drivers to take care of their clients, and Sebastiano was an excellent choice.

Mark and Julia Brown

Just want you know what a wonderful time we had on our trip

Loved all of the hotels! restaurants were great! Antica Moka blew us away. Just an amazing lunch with wonderful service! CML was a cool experience (Massimo was actually there!). Service and wine was great. Both of our drivers(Rossano & Alessandro) were fantastic. They were both so professional and so friendly. Always on time and cared for our every need. Cars were great! Can’t say enough about our drivers. Loved them both! All of the gourmet activities were great, but our favorite by far was the truffle experience! So amazing! We have recommended this to all of our friends! They were each special in their own way, but the cooking classes with Carmelita and Barbara were another highlight. Can’t say enough about these wonderful women. The vinegar, culatello and Parm tours were amazing. The keepsake was such a nice touch and balsamic vinegar gift and bottle of wine were a special treat. You guys were on top of everything. I can’t recall a single hiccup or mistake. Your responsiveness to questions or issues during the tour were a pleasant surprise. We could not have asked for more. We would definitely use your company again. The level of service from pre trip planning to the actual execution of the trip itself exceeded our expectations. I could not recommend your services more highly! Feel free to use our comments. Thank you again for an amazing trip.

Maria and Umberto Contestabile, Virginia Beach, USA

You were such a pleasure to deal with so understanding of all our issues

I can’t thank you enough for your caring and flexibility. The hotels were outstanding. The service aspect of each of the hotels was exemplary with exquisite care being given to every detail. Simone was also a delight. I was blown away by his knowledge of Florence and the Uffizi. I felt like I was walking with the encyclopedia Britannica. The restaurants…what can I possibly say? Pinchiorri is an experience one is not likely to forget. The food, the wine, the service – world class.

Ken and Phyllis Baker, Florida

This was our second trip with Cellar Tours and it was just as wonderful as our first.

Last year we toured the Prosecco region outside of Venice and this year we toured the Chianti region outside of Florence. The Chianti tour was very professionally organized and our driver was prompt and spoke English very well. Castello Di Monsanto was a wonderful experience and we were given an informative tour of their wine-producing facility. We then had a fabulous wine tasting of 3 of their delicious wines. Lunch at Albergaccio was one of the best meals we have had in Italy and this is our 3rd trip to Italy. We were given a personalized menu by the owner and had a 4-course lunch with matching wines. My wife and I travel to Europe for the food and wine, and this was definitely a highlight. We then traveled the short distance to Fonterutoli to have another wine tasting at Castello di Fonterutoli. The wines we tasted there were superb and we had a chance to purchase some. The trip was as good as we had anticipated and we hope to be traveling to Milan next year, and if we do, we will surely contact Cellar Tours to organize our third trip. We have no suggestions to give because you seem to cover everything in your tours. Thanks for everything again. Hope to contact you next year.

Phyllis Turner-Brim, Washington

Everything was exquisitely arranged and organized according to our requests.

I can’t think of anything you could have done better. The Four Seasons Florence was wonderful, worth every penny. Villa Armena – Beautifully done. The room was cozy and modern all at the same time. It was so peaceful and isolated we really enjoyed our time here. L’Andana – Jerry and I both liked this hotel the best. The combination of luxurious accommodations, spa services, and great food was outstanding. We enjoyed having champagne in the garden in the afternoon. Cibrèo in Florence was Fantastic. Really too much food, but we ate it all. The lunch at winery Beconcini – We enjoyed the homemade food and the conversation. Sauro was tremendous and took great care of us. He was punctual, courteous and professional. I have already recommended Cellar Tours to two friends. This was the most wonderful travel experience that we have ever had. We can’t even put into words how much we enjoyed our trip. Everything was organized in advance so that we didn’t have to make any decisions once we arrived. In my view, this is the only way to see Tuscany. We are looking forward to our next Cellar Tours experience!

Pam Braun

Everything was perfect!!!

I just want to thank you for all you and your staff did to make this an
unforgettable trip!  Claudio is a great driver and person! And it was still amazing that he drove us 5 years ago!!!

The wineries were all wonderful and we met such nice people. Each one
was so unique and we certainly were able to taste some special
vintages! We had a horse and buggy ride through the vineyards at one of
them! And a tasting in a WWI tunnel at another! And Mike loved the
winery where the owner spent the whole tasting with us and they talked
farming and found out it was not all that different if you were raising
grapes or corn and soybeans.

And all our walking tour guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and
it was like seeing these towns with a friend. The hotels – wow!!! That
suite upgrade on the Grand Canal was beyond belief.

I can go on and on:-) I think I broke my iCloud storage with
pictures:-) You know you have ruined us for other types of travel:-)

So it is back to reality today:-) I am not sure where to start:-)

Thanks again and can’t wait to be planning another adventure!

Ray Burnett, Brainerd, MN

La Perla showed us the fascinating process of parma ham

It was amazing to see 50,000 hams hanging in the building. The tour was conducted by the owner’s daughter (Sylvia), who had a complete understanding of the process. The location was so pastoral and we enjoyed just sitting out on the patio tasting, drinking wine and looking over the fields. Sylvia told us that she and her mother were going to pick porcini mushroom tomorrow. I really wanted to stay and join them, great experience! The simplicity of the Parmigiano process at Latteria Ducale is revealing. At Acetaia del Cristo (Balsamico), this was the one I was really looking forward to for I couldn’t understand the fuss over vinegar. I was impressed. The process is incredibly complicated and involved. From the summer heat under the eaves to the winter processing I was interested in the process. And of course, the result is amazing. Al Vedel was a totally unique experience. I think we had six or seven course, four different wines, and pampering for two plus hours. Erba del Re was “fantastico”. The ambiance is wonderful, artfully decorated.

Paula Kloza, New Jersey

Thank you for your detailed attention to our Italy trip.It was truly a trip of a lifetime

The connections were seamless. Venice was a Fairyland. Our rooms faced the Grand Canal and we were able to throw open the windows and take in the view. We were treated like special guests in each restaurant, and the first question asked was “who has a dairy allergy?” I am truly grateful for this consideration. We ate and drank to our heart’s content and walked so much, no one gained weight! Our guides were delightful. I learned so much from these supremely educated women and was happy to have an insider’s viewpoint. We loved the winery tours and Tuscany. The scenery was truly memorable. The keepsake itinerary kept us on schedule and provided suggestions for our free time as well as dining tips. This trip was more than enjoyable It was life-changing. I am grateful for your experience and hope to use Cellar Tours for future vacations.

Michele Tourtillotte

The trip was amazing!!!

The first day at dinner I said to my husband, “oh, my God Genevieve listened to what I asked for”. There were no flow issues. The Parma location was amazing, the suite was breathtaking. It was an awesome location, I requested a bottle of wine and within seconds a woman appeared at our door, silver tray in hand and opened the bottle and served. The food and wine pairing were beyond words. Marco was very nice and professional, he was good if we wanted to be dropped off at other places, he was very helpful with things to see in Florence. The wineries were amazing and the lunch was fabulous, I think the one the second day would have been enough, although we arrived early to the second winery and they were able to accommodate us. It was spectacular. Thank you so much. I will highly recommend your company. Thank you again.

Marla & Marlin

We had an amazing time!!

We want to thank you for all that you did to make that happen. It was one of my most wonderful birthdays…because of you all and your thoughtful planning, and of course, my wonderful husband 🙂 We met some amazing people whether it was during truffle hunting, cooking class, cheese tasting, wine cellar touring and tasting…and let’s not forget the incredible food made and served by such great and talented people.

We also want to mention our driver Marco…he made the experience even more wonderful with his knowledge of the area and wines. He took care of us and made us feel special. We couldn’t have asked for a better more wonderful driver/friend.

We look forward to traveling with you all in the future. Take care and again thank you!!

Jim Sobeck, April 2024

Cellar Tours is the best company for wine tours

I highly recommend Cellar Tours to all our friends. This was our third trip with them and our fourth is coming up in October. The tables they booked for us were the very best in the house. They must have clout with these restaurants. The variety of the trips is nice, and they choose great guides and drivers. The hotels they book us into are all fantastic. I give them my highest endorsement.

Joan Cefali

Everything about the Ashbee was wonderful. 5* plus

Ciro Biondi was an amazing experience! The food was wonderfully simple and fresh. Absolutely delicious! Ciro and his wife. Cottanera was great. Again, simple, fresh and way too much. Il Duomo, OMG!, was over the top. The chef and staff were amazingly attentive and the experience was like no other. The driver Sebastiano is a sweetheart. He actually gave us some of his wine and fruit from his own garden. Siracusa Tour guide Enzo was very knowledgeable. He definitely went above and beyond my expectations. I would definitely recommend you again and again and again!!

Marsha and John Filice, La Selva, Califorina

We are now back home and I wanted to write and thank you.

Simona and your staff for another wonderful tour. The scheduling and planning were perfect and I know that requires familiarity with the area and locations. The winery selections were fabulous and we enjoyed meeting many owners and winemakers. All of your recommendations were on point. Every day was memorable. Our drivers and guides were personable and became our friends. I sound effusive, but my appreciation is real. Well done. We look forward to the next food and wine adventure.

Grazie mille, Jeanne Carpenter

Simona outdid herself with this one

Spending 12 days in Sicily, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, has been wonderful. The history and scenery is so inspiring and fascinating. All of our many guides, hosts and especially our driver, John, have made this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We especially enjoyed our time with Ciro and Stephanie Biondi at their home in their Etna vineyard in Trecastagni. And of course, we can’t say enough good things about Simona at Cellar Tours, who has been planning trips for us for a decade. She outdid herself with this one.

Sharon Marsh, Santa Rosa, California

Thoroughly enjoyed Caprai and Paolo Bea both...very different but equally enjoyable

Lunch at Brizi was one of my favorite things of the entire trip to Italy. I loved Emanuella, the location, the food….just everything. I would go stay there! What an unexpected joy! You were organized, thorough, and exceeded my expectations. You made planning the adventure quite simple!

Roy Ramquist, Wisconsin

It was first class all the way and one of the most enjoyable of our travel experiences.

You have obviously put a lot of thought and work into organizing this tour. Your selection of hotels, wineries, and the performance of the guides, drivers, etc. were all terrific. Your selection of wineries to visit was inspired. From the small family, Decugnano Barbi winery in Umbria to the medium-sized Altesino to the large but high-quality Antinori property gave an interesting view of Tuscan winemaking. La Pergola was one of the finest meals of our lives and we are accustomed to eating in fine restaurants. Mr. Beck personally checked to make sure we were satisfied. Have already recommended your company to one of my wine buddies. On top of that, have been discussing the possibility of using your company for a trip to Bordeaux and the wine districts of Spain.

Melissa and Albert Grobmyer

Wonderful Wine Experience

Wow! Simona at Cellar Tours curated a beautiful experience for us (4 couples) in Umbria and Marche. From the private wine tastings to the delicious meals to the unique hotels and art excursions, everything was thoughtfully scheduled and every detail considered. We were warmly welcomed everywhere, all because of Simona. We are pretty sophisticated travelers, and we were very impressed! We highly recommend Cellar Tours!

Nicole Ehrhart , Fort Collins, Colorado

The tour was much more special than we imagined

It was wonderful meeting the owners of many of these vineyards and producers. We were so impressed with the fact that these are places we never would have found or known about through other means as a typical tourist. Everyone treated us very well…as if we were honored guests. Toblino was probably our favorite WINERY…the tour was nice but of course, the engagement occurred here, the location was very scenic and the lunch was amazing! San Leonardo was also amazing as we met and tasted with the Marchese. Really wonderful. Villa Novare was very good as well, very professional and nice. Informative. The hotel Due Torri was wonderful!! It was a highlight to stay at the location. Perfect choice! The vehicles were very nice and the drivers were very punctual and polite. ABSOLUTELY would recommend Cellar Tours!! We will do another tour with you in the future. It was so special and so far beyond our best expectations! I am still marveling over the quality and the specialness of the experience!!!!”