Venice Food & Wine Tours

Today you will explore the best of Venice with your private guide. The main island is sectioned into different pedestrianized neighborhoods, called sestiere. These include San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio (where Marco Polo was born), and Castello. You will visit the stunning Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and majestic St Mark square and Basilica. Hop into a private motorboat and enjoy a cruise on the spectacular Grand Canal. The canal lined with intricately decorated palaces such as the Fondaco dei Turchi (now the Natural History Museum), Fondaco dei Tedeschi (from the terrace you have a fantastic view of Venice and Grand Canal), the Palazzo Contarini and Ca’ Pesaro (now the Gallery of Modern Art and Oriental Museum).

If you are an art lover, your guide will show you the most exciting corners of the “Accademia” (which houses the most extensive collection of Venetian art in existence). And the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This superb art museum is home to over 50 priceless paintings by the Italian master, Tintoretto (who lived for over 20 years in Venice).

Before dinner, you will be delighted with a private wine tasting of terrific gems from the Veneto. The Veneto wine region is a large area that includes the vineyards of Soave, Valpolicella, Colli Euganei, Breganze, Colli Euganei, and Bardolino, only to name a few. Fresh, light whites are made in Soave, while full-bodied reds such as Amarone (a rich, delicious “Passito” style red wine) made in the Valpolicella sub-zones. You will also get to taste Prosecco from the Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene region just north of Venice.

Tonight, you’ll indulge in a truly exceptional dining experience! You will have a special table booked for you at Michelin starred Quadri, renovated in early 2018 by designer Philippe Starck and the only restaurant right in St Mark’s Square. Owned and run by the Alajmo family (who also own 3 Michelin starred Le Calandre close to Padua), it offers epicurean, gourmet cuisine in an opulent Venetian atmosphere. You will sample the complete eight courses tasting menu, including flagship dishes like cappuccino di Baccalà (Salt cod and potato cappuccino with tarragon), Risotto Rosso (Red risotto with oysters, cauliflower and caviar), and olive oil sponge cake with chocolate and sour cherries.

From the colorful canal-side market, you will carry on to a beautiful private palazzo for your private cooking lesson. You will prepare a magical three-course lunch under the guidance of your friendly host, sipping wine as you cook, and you will then all sit down to enjoy it.

After a great morning, the afternoon is at leisure for you to discover Venice on your own. Shopping in Venice is a fabulous experience. You can pick up handmade Venetian carnival masks, blown glass from the island of Murano, handmade marbled paper, velvet slippers, unique gold jewelry, and of course, gourmet goodies (wine, extra virgin olive oil, Amaretto cookies, artisan pasta). Not to mention high fashion and well-known designers- Ferragamo, Versace, Armani, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana.

In the early evening, you have one last treat today, a bacaro tour of Venice with your excellent wine guide Mauro. There are hundreds of charming “Bacari” – traditional Venetian wine bars – but you will visit only the most authentic ones, offering the best ombre (glass of wine) and cicheti (nibbles and savories). Drinking an ombra and eating a cicheto in Venice is a social ritual that will be explained to you by your guide, along with Venetian cuisine and wines.

After the tour, the rest of the evening is on your own. If you are still peckish, we recommend a dinner at the seafood restaurant Da Fiore or Vecio Fritolin. Enjoy!

The Bisol Prosecco wine family is well respected for having brought back to life a long lost local grape here: Dorona. Its name comes from “d’ Oro” (golden).

You will visit the vineyard, learn all about this grape, how it was rediscovered, and how the salty seawater is managed in this delicate environment. Then you will taste this unique Dorona grape-based wine, like the high society Venetian used to, 500 years ago. You will also taste the red wine produced on-site. Lunch will be at the estate Osteria Contemporanea (there is also a Michelin starred restaurant if you prefer).

Transfer back to the hotel in the late afternoon and free time at disposal. We suggest an aperitif and light dinner at Harry’s Bar (Ernest Hemingway’s home away from home). The Bellini is probably the most famous Venetian cocktail invented here in 1948. It is made of sparkling Prosecco and fresh white peach juice. In 1950 Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s bar, also invented Carpaccio. This dish was dedicated to the famous Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio, known for the red and whites tones of his works, the same colors you find in the dish. It is thinly sliced beef (red color), served with a special sauce (white color).