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 Sicily, Italy - 5 nights
Available May and October - Monday to Saturday
Come see why the ancient land of Sicily is now Italy’s hottest new wine zone. On this 6-day gourmet wine tour, you’ll visit the new top wineries, see Greek temples and Byzantine cathedrals, lunch at an olive oil producer, take a boat ride on the Mediterranean, and feast on Sicily’s multicultural cuisine.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE
 PALERMO’S ART & WINE TREASURES
Palermo was the richest city in the Mediterranean in the 1100s. We’ll start with a walking tour of Palermo and see its layers of history: Byzantine, Barolo, Arabic, and Norman. Plus, we’ll walk through its famous outdoor market. After lunch, we’ll have an Introduction of Sicilian wine at a nearby wine estate, located in an old abbey.
Dinner introduces the multicultural cuisine of Sicily.
DAY TWO
 BYZANTINE MOSAICS
Built in 1166, the Cathedral of Monreale is covered with mosaics, gold leaf, and stone intarsia. After a visit to this awesome sight, we continue to Planeta. After gaining recognition for their intense Chardonnay and Merlot, they subsequently introduced wine-lovers to Sicily’s indigenous grapes: succulent Nero d’Avola, bright berry Cerasuolo, and fragrant Fiano. We'll have lunch at their Ulmo vineyard, then continue to a newer producer, Alessandro di Camporeale. The owner will escort us through the family’s boutique winery and pour their syrah, a symphony of dark berries and spice.
DAY THREE
 THE GREEK TEMPLE OF SEGESTA
Greek civilization is evident at Segesta, an archaeological park with a Greek Doric temple and amphitheater. Lunch follows at a boutique olive oil estate, where their different oils will be paired with complementary dishes.
The afternoon features a visit to the sea-salt ponds, where sea salt is made their antique way, with windmills and evaporation. A boat ride takes us by the piles of salt and on to the Isle of Mozia, a Phoenician settlement .
DAY FOUR
 THE NEW BREED OF BOUTIQUE WINEMAKER
Today features two new boutique wineries that have won acclaim: Spadafora, set in a scenic landscape of wines and mountains. And Ceuso, founded by three brothers and located in a beautifully renovated baglio or old plantation building.
Our host will give us a first-person perspective on the winery’s breakthrough, and a taste of the luscious line-up of wines, from Catarrato to Nero d’Avola.
DAY FIVE
 MARSALA REDISCOVERED
Port wine was invented in the 1700s after an Englishman docked in the port town of Marsala and found the local sweet wine to his liking. Soon Marsala was the most famous wine of Italy. This morning, we’ll visit Marsala’s bustling outdoor market and Baroque monuments, then head to the savior of Marsala wine, Marco de Bartoli, for a tour and tasting.
Our afternoon tasting is at Donnafugata. Here we'll sample native Sicilian grapes like Nero d'Avola and Ansonica, and see how finely Cabernet and Merlot behave in this Mediterranean climate.
DAY SIX
Buon viaggio! A shuttle to the Palermo airport and assistance with your travel plans.
GROUP SIZE
A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour in limited to a maximum of 14 participants.
HOW TO ARRIVE
Meet: Palermo City Center
Depart: Palermo Airport
(It is necessary to arrive in Palermo the preceding night in order to be at our pick-up point on time.)
*These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Double Room/US$3095
Single Room Supplement/US$350
Standard accommodations are two people per room. If you are traveling alone, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender, or you may choose to room alone by paying a private room supplement fee
*Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation
After availability is confirmed, a deposit of US$400 per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 60 days before your arrival date.
*Breakfasts
*Two (2) lunches: welcome lunch, olive farm
*All dinners except one
*All tastings and wine at dinner
*Charming 3 and 4 star hotels, many in renovated villas, palazzi, abbeys, or on wine estates and all with private baths
Transportation: We provide one van pick-up on day of arrival/departure at designated train station or airport (call for times). All ground transport during stay.
Not Included:
Airfare
Most lunches
Transportation to start/end points (except for above shuttle)
Personal expenses
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS
"I've lived and traveled in a lot of countries, but I honestly can't remember a more beautiful experience - the countryside, the food, the wines, the people. Everything was about as perfect as could be."
"We thought ourselves very lucky to be in a group of knowledgeable wine people and benefited at lot from their experience. We loved Tuscany and thought the tour was an excellent introduction to the region."
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MAP*
This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE.
*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location.
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Wines of Sicily
