Tuscany Wine Tour | May 27 - June 3, 2024

Join me on a 7-night excursion to Cortona, the famous Tuscan hill-town that served as the setting for Under the Tuscan Sun. We will enjoy daily excursions to some of the best wineries and restaurants in Tuscany, meeting winemakers, chefs, and old friends. I have been traveling to Cortona since 2006 and it is truly my spiritual home. I love sharing this magical place, and am excited to bring a new group to explore the region.

This year, our tour will have new luxury accommodations in the heart of Cortona. Guests will have the option of staying in the 5-star luxury Monastario or in a lovely 3-star hotel. We will visit wineries in Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Cortona, tasting some of the best wines in Italy. In addition, we will enjoy meals at some of Cortona’s finest restaurants, home-made local food at family wineries, and the famous restaurant of Dario Cecchini, the great butcher and chef of the Chianti region.

This tour is limited to 10 guests.

Tour Options - both hotels are located within the town center of Cortona
5-star, luxury spa hotel accommodations: $3,500/pp (single room supplement: $1,500)
3-star, lovely hotel accommodations: $2,800/pp (single room supplement: $450)
Deposit: $1,500, due December 31, 2023
Payment in full due by February 1, 2024
payment by check to Pane e Vino Wine Bar (or Venmo to @uncorkedpianist)
credit card payments accepted with a 3% processing fee
* deposit non-refundable after December 31, 2023
* remaining balance fully refundable until February 29, 2024
* no refunds after March 1, 2024
* if tour numbers are not sufficient, some meals may be eliminated from the tour package
* email with questions: sommelier@panevinoks.com

What’s Included:

• 7 nights lodging with breakfast (either 5-star or 3-star)

• all winery visits and tastings

• breakfast each day at the hotel

• meals - lunches while on tour and multiple group dinners in Cortona including wine tastings

• transportation to all tastings, meals, or other planned group events

Not Included:

• Flights

• Transportation to the train station in Cortona (Camucia-Cortona Station)

• Non-group meals

Daily Schedule (subject to change)

• Monday, May 27

  • arrive in Cortona

  • dinner at FuFluns Pizzeria

• Tuesday, May 28

  • 1morning: visit to Cortona winery

  • lunch in Cortona (on own)

  • afternoon: tasting of Cortona wines and visit to local Jeweler in Cortona

  • evening: Natural Wine Dinner at Pane e Vino, Cortona

• Wednesday, May 29

  • morning: tasting at winery in Montalcino

  • afternoon: lunch and tasting at 2nd winery in Montalcino

  • evening: dinner in Cortona (on own)

• Thursday, May 30

  • morning: excursion day to Florence (train tickets provided)

  • evening: Wine dinner in Cortona

• Friday, May 31

  • morning: winery visit to Montepulciano

  • lunch/afternoon: visit to town of Montepulciano

  • evening: dinner in Cortona (on own)

• Saturday, June 1

  • morning: Cortona farmer’s market

  • lunch: Panzano by Dario Cecchini

  • afternoon: winery visit to Chianti Classico

  • evening: group dinner in Cortona

• Sunday, June 2

  • morning: explore the Cortona Antique market / enjoy mass in Cortona

  • lunch: on own in Cortona

  • afternoon: relax in Cortona

  • evening: Wine Tasting dinner in Cortona

Travel Suggestions and Plans

• May 26, arrive in Rome, Florence, or Milan and stay overnight

• May 27, take train to Camucia-Cortona (you will be picked up and taken to hotel for check-in between 3pm-6pm)

• June 3, check-out by 11am – book return flights departing no earlier than 1pm on June 3

Burgundy Wine Tour | May 19-23, 2024

Luxy, elegance, and charm. The wines of Burgundy are among the most mesmerizing, and exclusive, wines in the world. This land is home to the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the planet and can be confoundingly complex to understand. Once here, it is magical to be able to actually stroll in the Grand Cru vineyards of Le Montrachet, Le Richebourg, and Clos de Vougeot, slowly understanding the intricacies and diversity of terroir that runs the 40 miles of the Côte d’Or.

On this tour, we will explore some of the great wines of the region, tasting a range of Village, Premier, and Grand Cru wines from both the Côte-de-Beaune and the Côte-de-Nuits. We will stay in the charming and historic town of Beaune, the heart of Burgundy. Tastings will include guided tours and tastings at domaines, as well as private group tastings of wines selected by me to explore the beauty and diversity of the region’s wines. Guests will have time to explore the charming and historic town of Beaune, including the remarkable Hospices de Beaune. Meals will be enjoyed at a range of Michelin starred and recommended bistros and fine-dining establishments with spectacular wine offerings.

This tour is limited to 6 guests. Booking will be confirmed only by email. Should there be a large number of interested parties, some groups may be offered alternate dates.

This tour may be booked in conjunction with the Burgundy Wine Tour, May 19-23.

Cost: $3,750
Deposit: $1,500, due December 1, 2023
Payment in full due by December 31, 2023
payment by check to Pane e Vino Wine Bar
credit card payments accepted with a 3% processing fee
* deposit non-refundable after December 31, 2023
* remaining balance fully refundable until February 29, 2024
* no refunds after March 1, 2024

What’s Included:

• lodging in a luxury hotel in Beaune, France - the capital of Burgundy

• all winery visits and tastings

• breakfast each day at the hotel

• all meals

  • lunches and dinners at Michelin-starred or recommended restaurants throughout the Côte d’Or.

  • All lunches and dinners include either set wine pairings or up to €500 in wine purchased for the table. Additional/more luxury purchases may be purchased by participants at their own/split expense.

• transportation to all tastings, meals, or other planned group events

Not Included:

• Flights

• transportation to the hotel in Beaune

• individual wine purchases

• meal wines above the allowance

Daily Schedule (approximate)

• Sunday, May 19

  • arrive in Beaune, check-in at hotel after 1pm

  • dinner in Puligny-Montrachet with tasting of Burgundy village wines

• Monday, May 20

  • 10am, winery visit and tasting

  • 1pm, lunch in Gevrey-Chambertin

  • 3pm, walk the vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey-Saint-Denis and taste wines from these villages

  • 7:30pm, dinner in Beaune

• Tuesday, May 21

  • 11:30am, visit and lunch at Clos de Vougeot with wine tasting

  • 3:00pm, walk the vineyards of Vosne-Romanée including those of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti - taste Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges

  • 7:30pm, dinner at Michelin Star Restaurant in Beaune

• Wednesday, May 22

  • 10:00am, guided vineyard tour in Puligny-Montrachet

  • 12:00pm, lunch with wine tasting in Puligny-Montrachet

  • 3:00pm, return to Beaune or visit towns and vineyards of Meursault/Volnay

  • 7:30pm, dinner in Beaune

• Thursday, May 23

  • check-out by 11am

Possible Winery Visits - to be confirmed

• Clos de Tart, Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, Domaine Leroy, Domaine de Montille, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Flaively, Gérard Raphet, Joseph Drouhin, Louis Jadot, Méo-Camuzet, Olivier Leflaive, Robert-Chévillon

Travel Suggestions and Plans

• May 18 or 19, arrive in Paris (guests continuing from Champagne will train directly from Reims to Beaune on May 19).

• May 19: train from Paris to Beaune (Paris Lyon Station to Beaune, 2 hours / Paris CDG Airport to Beaune, 4 hours); taxi/Uber from Beaune train station to hotel in Beaune center; arrive by 5pm for dinner at 7:30pm.

• May 20-22: tastings, meals, tours in the Burgundy region

• May 23: breakfast at hotel; check-out by 11am.

Champagne Wine Tour | May 15-19, 2024

No wine in the world sparks more celebration and excitement than the incredible bubbles from the region of Champagne. Just 90 miles from Paris, the region is, in my opinion, actually among the most misunderstood in the wine world. We often think of this incredible beverage as a ‘luxury product’ rather than as a wine. This extraordinary food and wine experience will explore the incredible diversity of wines in Champagne, and its place as a true wine not just a ‘product’ to pour for celebratory occasions.

On this tour, we will visit at least 6 prestigious producers of Champagne, with a focus on Grower/Producers. In addition to visits in the main towns of Reims and Épernay, we will visit smaller areas of Champagne including Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avises, and Aÿ. Meals will be at restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide, including at least one 2-star Michelin restaurant. Lodging will be at a luxury hotel in the center of Reims. Guest will enjoy one evening on their own to explore the city and dine as you wish. Transportation will be in an 8-person van, driven by Michael Kirkendoll, allowing easy stops for photos or sudden changes in plans.

This tour is limited to 6 guests. Booking will be confirmed only by email. Should there be a large number of interested parties, some groups may be offered alternate dates.

This tour may be booked in conjunction with the Burgundy Wine Tour, May 19-23. - click here for info

Cost: $3,750
Deposit: $1,500, due December 1, 2023
Payment in full due by December 31, 2023
payment by check to Pane e Vino Wine Bar
credit card payments accepted with a 3% processing fee
* deposit non-refundable after December 31, 2023
* remaining balance fully refundable until February 29, 2024
* no refunds after March 1, 2024

What’s Included:

• lodging in a luxury hotel in Reims, France - the capital of Champagne

• all winery visits and tastings

• breakfast each day at the hotel

• all lunches - all lunches held at Champagne producer restaurants with tastings

• 3 dinners (one night on your own in Reims)

  • Included dinners all at Michelin recommended restaurants including at least one Two-Star Restaurant.

  • All lunches and dinners include either set wine pairings or up to €400 in wine purchased for the table. Additional/more luxury purchases may be purchased at group expense above the set amount.

• transportation to all tastings, meals, or other planned group events

Not Included:

• Flights

• transportation to the hotel in Reims

• individual wine purchases

• meal wines above the €400 allowance

Daily Schedule (approximate)

• 10am, Morning Winery Visit/Tasting

• 12pm, Lunch

• 3pm, Afternoon Winery Visit/Tasting

• 7:30pm, Dinner

Possible Winery Visits - to be confirmed

• Bollinger, Cortogne-Taillet, Dom Ruinart, Egly-Ouriet, Jacques Selosse, Krug, Moët et Chandon, Perrier-Joët, Pierre Gimmonet et Fils, Pierre Peters, Tattinger, Vilmart & Cie

Travel Suggestions and Plans

• May 14 or 15: arrive in Paris

• May 15: TGV from Paris to Champagne-Ardenne, transfer to train to Reims, taxi or Uber to hotel - arrive by 5pm for dinner at 7:30pm.

• May 16-18: tastings, meals, tours in the Champagne region

• May 19: breakfast at hotel; check-out by noon.

  • Guests continuing to Burgundy will travel either by train or by van to Beaune (TBD).

Photos from my 2023 travels in Champagne