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High Altitude Gourmet Food and Wine Extravaganza

EXPLORE ALL OUR EXPLORE YOUR PRIVATE WINE TOURS IN ITALY

Overview of Dolomites Food & Wine Tour

In north-east Italy, tucked in just south of Austria and east of Switzerland, the mesmerizing Dolomites region is a veritable real-life Narnia. The famous 19th-century travel writer John Murray wrote in his Dolomites Travel Guide, “Altogether they impart an air of novelty and sublime grandeur to the scene which can only be appreciated by those who have viewed it.” It is undoubtedly a dreamy, meditative location that transports you to another world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site straddles the striking regions of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (South Tyrol, Trento, Bolzano), Friuli Venezia Giulia (Udine and Pordenone), and the Veneto (Belluno). The Dolomite ranges form a breathtaking section of the Alps and enjoy a unique micro-climate where you will find jagged, Ice Age summits; towering limestone cliffs and pink-grey mountain spires; dark, spruce pine forests; and crystalline, glacial pools, as well as grapevines; fragrant meadows; luxuriant, verdant valleys. Some of the warmest lakes in the Alps are located here, like Lake Caldaro, and the architecture could be summed up as a “chocolate box fairy tale.” Imagine timbered houses whose balconies spill over with bright flowers, ancient castles, thermal spas, and demure medieval churches. Contemporary architecture in the Dolomites is very tasteful, nearly always energy efficient, and uses local materials. There are three official languages spoken in this area- German (used predominantly in Alto Adige), Italian, and Ladin (similar to Swiss Romansh and Friulian, it comes from Latin and is an Alpine Romance language that has amazingly managed to survive time).

The delicious cuisine is a blend of hearty Tyrolean/Austrian cooking, ingredients from Veneto, and Venetian influenced traditions (especially in Belluno). You will find fabulous local cheeses like Fodòm (a raw cow’s milk gem made around Livinallongo del Col di Lana), Piave (a hard cheese often used to make traditional “Formai Frit,” fried cheese with sauerkraut and ubiquitous polenta), and Schiz (a fresh cheese made in mountain huts with milk curd from just-milked cows, usually served with polenta). Savory specialties include Schlutzkrapfen ravioli (made with rye flour, curd cheese, spinach, parmigiano, and chives), Alpine wild mushroom risotto, Vinschgau radicchio, and Velloi cheese Soufflé, Pastin (pork and beef sausage made with spices and white wine) and Casunziei all’ampezzana (beetroot-stuffed ravioli with poppy seeds). After a day of clean, head-clearing mountain air, you’ll enjoy some of the sweet treats in the Dolomites like the ever-present apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and delicious Kodinza (apple cake in puff pastry). Schiava (Vernatsch) and Lagrein are the tasty, native red grape varieties in Alto Adige and still extensively used alongside Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (cultivated here since the late 1800’s) and other quirky grapes like red Muscat and popular Pinot Noir. White wines in this area are even more famous internationally, and you’ll have the chance to taste exquisite examples of spicy Gewürztraminer, delicate Pinot Bianco, and top-class Pinot Grigio (considered to be some of the absolute best in Italy).

We have designed this luxurious food and wine-focused itinerary in the Dolomites with a view of being best enjoyed in late Spring, early Summer, or Autumn (which is the ultimate season to enjoy the wine country). However, we can also adjust it for Winter to incorporate skiing/snow sports. Some of the world’s best ski resorts are located here, including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Badia, Madonna di Campiglio, Kronplatz, and Val Gardena, not to mention extremely chic and cool après-ski terraces! This program, however, has a gourmet focus. Over the next unforgettable week in Alto Adige and Belluno, you will visit the region’s best and most dynamic wine estates like Alois Lageder, Elena Walch, Cantina Tramin, Castel Juval, Nals Margreid, Cantina Terlano, and Franz Haas- all located in simply magical landscapes. Feel like you are in a James Bond movie (indeed, several Bond movies were filmed in the Dolomites) as you cable car over dramatic heights to get to your charming Alpine “hut” for lunch. Learn how to prepare mouthwatering “Ladin” dishes in a private cooking class and then sit outside gazing over the lush meadows as you enjoy the fruit of your efforts. And switch gears with a fun microbrewery visit and tasting of local Tyrolean beers.

You will be sleeping like royalty on this tour, spoiled in luxury mountain lodges and old-world village spa hotels, and a mix of historical and contemporary resorts (all with haute cuisine restaurants onsite). And you’ll visit some of the finest Michelin starred eateries in Northern Italy, trying the chef’s tasting menus with wine pairings. If you love the therapeutic, fresh air of the great outdoors as well as elegant dining and premium wines, the Dolomites will truly delight you and be the trip of a lifetime. Explore this utterly enchanting Italian gem with us on this luxurious private gourmet tour!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exclusive, Private Luxury Winery Tours and top tastings
  • Michelin Starred Dining
  • Luxury Alpine Chalet Hotels
  • Mountain Hut and Cheese Experience
  • Unique Ladin Cooking Class & Microbrewery Tasting of Artisan brews
  • Visit historic and beautiful villages and towns of Tramin, Merano, Cortina, Bolzano...
  • Professional & Elegant English speaking Chauffeur & Mercedes

Unveiling Your Customized Dolomites Tour: Explore Your Tailored Itinerary

  1. Verona/Venice airport - Magrè - Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino - Tramin - Merano hills

    Castel Ringberg Vineyard
    Castel Ringberg Vineyard

    Welcome to Alto Adige/South Tyrol

    • 5* Luxury Mountain Lodge Hotel
    • Winery Lunch with Top Estate Wines
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  2. Merano hills - Merano - Lana - Vinschgau, Castelbello - Merano

    Art Deco elegance at your historic hotel
    Art Deco elegance at your historic hotel

    Micro Brewery Tasting, Castles & Wine, Michelin * Gourmet Dining

    • 5* Luxury Mountain Lodge Hotel
    • Full Breakfast, Michelin Starred Dinner with Wine Pairings
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  3. Merano Hills - Nalles - Terlano - San Michele Appiano - Montagna - Bolzano - Merano

    Scenic vineyard at Franz Haas
    Scenic vineyard at Franz Haas

    Premium Wines, Romantic Wine Roads & Bolzano

    • 5* Luxury Mountain Lodge Hotel
    • Full Breakfast, Michelin Starred Lunch with Wine Pairings
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  4. Merano Hills - Fiè Allo Sciliar - Varna - San Cassiano in Badia

    Al Fresco Wine Aperitif at Markus Prackwieser Gump Hof
    Al Fresco Wine Aperitif at Markus Prackwieser Gump Hof

    Fine Wines of the Isarco Valley and on to Val Badia

    • 5* Luxury Village Farmhouse Spa Hotel
    • Full Breakfast, Casual Lunch with Wines
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  5. San Cassiano in Badia - La Villa - Saraghes - Corvara in Badia - San Cassiano in Badia

    Ütia Malga Saraghes Alpine "Hut"
    Ütia Malga Saraghes Alpine "Hut"

    Wine Tasting, Lunch in Alpine "Hütte," Scenic Mountain Drive, Gourmet Dinner

    • Luxury Village Farmhouse Spa Hotel
    • Full Breakfast, Michelin starred dinner with wine pairings
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  6. San Cassiano in Badia – Alfarëi, Badia - Zuel di Sopra

    Learn how to cook traditional Ladin cuisine
    Learn how to cook traditional Ladin cuisine

    Ladin Cuisine and Hands-On Cooking Experience, Lake Walk

    • 5* Luxury Mountain Spa Resort
    • Full Breakfast, Traditional Ladin Lunch with Wines
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  7. Zuel di Sopra - Alverà - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Zuel di Sopra

    Unique Mountain Side Lunch
    Unique Mountain Side Lunch

    Artisan Cheese Experience and Cortina, the Pearl of Dolomites

    • 5* Luxury Mountain Spa Resort
    • Full Breakfast, Private Lunch in Panoramic Mountain Setting, with Wines
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes
  8. Zuel di Sopra - Venice Airport

    Buon Viaggio!
    Buon Viaggio!

    Arrivederci

    • none
    • Full Breakfast
    • Private Chauffeured Mercedes

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More information

If you would like us to customize an exclusive luxury tour, contact us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of a mininium two guests. In addition, all of our private, chauffeured tours are available year-round upon request.

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