Great food ~ and wine ~ focused vacations around the world.

From popping bottles in a Champagne cave to foraging through the countryside with an award-winning chef, our Virtuoso partner hotels cruise line, tour operators, on-site tour connections, and destinations take culinary travel  WAY beyond the dinner table. Culinary themed vacations are more popular than ever, and during 2019 we will be sharing lots of great foodie and wine lovers vacation options with you. Sit back, tuck your napkin into your collar and raise your glass in a toast. Our adventure begins today!

What comprises this phenomenon called Culinary Travel? Everyone eats, right, so what makes this different? Would it not mean eating delicious, regional food when you travel? Of course! But it is so much more. It is learning about the people, how they live their lives, what is their heritage, their traditions, their stories and their flavors. It is exploring culture through cuisine.

Your dream vacation is Tuscany. Of course! The landscapes are incredible, so dramatic. And the historic cities like Florence and Siena. It is a place of art and hilltop towns overlooking the breathtaking and vibrant valleys below. And it is an exquisite culinary adventure because of their delicious food and wine. Imagine staying at an age old vineyard with rolling hills of grapevines as far as the eye can see. You awake to the silence of birds chirping in the distance and the excitement of your day ahead. Today, you get to partake in an amazing experience of learning how to prepare a 4 course meal with a locally renowned chef. Today, you will explore the wines that enhance your meal. You will smell the tantalizing aromas of rich ingredients used in Italian dishes. You will savory the perfect wine that accompanies the flavors of your creation. This culinary experience will be a symphony for your soul.

One of our AMAZING Culinary Travel partners is Access Culinary Trips. In order to paint the rest of the picture and complete the story, I am sharing some fabulous pictures throughout my blog that I found on their website along with highlights of a 5 day culinary adventure through Tuscany they created. Total photo creds to them, I could never produce something this awesome! Thank you and kudos to you, Access Culinary Trips!

DAY 1:  Begin your Culinary Adventure

Your driver is waiting at the Florence airport to whisk you away through the lush rolling hills and medieval towns of Tuscany to start your journey into Italian culinary delights. You will visit Siena, located in the Chianti region, on your way to today’s destination of Cortona. After a walking tour, you’ll stop at a local bakery to try the traditional Sienese cookie made from almonds, sugar and egg whites called the Ricciarelli. After you arrive at your hotel in Cortona, you have an evening to explore on your own.

DAY 2: Italian Cooking Class

The day you have been dreaming of! You will meet with a local chef for a traditional cooking class in her home. Your chef will guide you in hands-on preparation of a legendary meal, from antipasto to dessert, while telling stories of the local culture. Including the local pici pasta with ragu, you will dine on your creation paired with the perfect wine.

The afternoon adventure includes a visit to the local food producers that might be a grocer or butcher. A stop at a family owned farm house is also on the tour, where you learn about cheese making and get to taste delicious varieties like raviggiolo, ricotta and pecorino cheese that are paired with dessert wine, jams, fresh vegetables and fruits, and extra virgin olive oil.

This lovely day ends with an ice cream cocktail making class, made with local gelato. You will learn to make a White Lady with lemon sorbet or a strawberry daiquiri with strawberry ice cream. An amazing way to wind down the perfect day!

DAY 3:  Tuscany Wineries

How exciting! You’re off to visit a world-famous wine region – Val d’Orcia – that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first stop at Braccesca Winery, one of Tuscany’s finest, is for a tour, tasting and lunch. After exploring this incredible wine estate, you get a private tasting of local wines, followed by lunch paired with their wines.

Next you’ll stroll through the beautiful hill towns of Pienza and Montepulciano which are famous for their excellent cheese and wines. You’ll visit an artisanal cheese shop and get to taste different aged percorino di Pienza cheese. This is followed by another winery visit at Talosa Winery for a tour and tastings of their award winning wines paired with local percorino cheese and bruschetta.

DAY 4:  Hunting Truffles and Michelin Rated Dinner

What is a truffle, you might ask? I did, I have no clue. Apparently it is a strong-smelling underground fungus that is a considered a culinary delicacy. Good to know, as you will be hunting them today with trained truffle dogs. The truffles found in Tuscany are used in cooking and you will learn what recipes complement them from the expert guide. After learning where and how to find them, you will return to the farmhouse for an al fresco lunch with local produced wines, the new found truffles, handmade pasta, local meats and cheeses and fresh grown herbs from their garden.

They have saved the best for the last night. You will enjoy a farewell dinner at the Michelin-starred II Falconiere, run by award-winning executive chef Silvia Regi Baracchi. This will be a scrumptious meal that you will not forget!

We hope you enjoyed the tiny little glimpse into the world of Culinary Travel we shared with you today. No matter where you travel, there is sure to be a culinary adventure waiting for you. Imagine learning about the art of preparing and cooking Asian, Spanish, French, Indian, or African foods. Tasting wine and craft beers from all over the world. The possibilities are endless! In the next few weeks, we will bring you more insights into Culinary Travel and how you can experience it on your next vacation. We all eat. Let’s make it an adventure!