Travel the world one glass at a time.
Guided wine and food tours, coordinated and curated by the Uncorked Pianist.
Wine Tours & Travel
My love for wine and my passion for sharing it comes from my own experiences traveling the world as a classical pianist. As part of these adventures, I have enjoyed countless opportunities to visit with winemakers, their families, and the people in these communities that are integrally connected with the world of wine. I began leading wine tours in Italy for groups of musicians all the way back in 2010 in addition to my own visits to estates on vacations with my wife. Over the years, I have developed close relationships and friendships with many of these producers who open their homes and their cellars to share their stories with my guests. Wine tours with us are not just trips designed to show-off the famous wineries and wines from these regions, but are instead about building relationships and learning the stories of the people and places that make the wine. Yes, we will visit many of these celebrated estates, but more often than not, we will explore producers who bring us into their living room instead of the formal tasting room and stroll through their vineyards with the winemaker instead of a guide. You will leave our tours with a real understanding of the people and places that make this amazing nectar; and plenty of new wines to add to your own cellars!
PRIVATE TOURS
Our pre-set tour dates may sell out. If you have a group of friends or family interested in touring together, please reach out directly and I will happily coordinate an additional tour for your group. Tours can replicate the planned tours, or can be arranged to: Napa/Sonoma, Willamette Valley, Tuscany, Piemonte, Champagne, Burgundy, Rhône Valley (other destinations may be available by request).
2025 WINE TOURS
Sicily, May 20-30 & June 16-26
Tuscany, June 3-10
Piemonte, October 13-20
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SICILY | JUNE 16-26
Cost: $7,000pp
Locations: Mount Etna, Taormina, Ragusa Ibla, Siracusa
Tour #1, May 20-30 is sold out!This will be an exciting trip that includes 10-nights of 5-star lodging with stays on the slopes of Mount Etna, the historic city of Taormina, the gorgeous UNESCO village of Ragusa Ibla, and in the Ancient Greek capital of Siracusa. The tour includes tastings at some of Sicily’s top wineries, meat at a range of both local trattorias and Michelin-Star restaurants, and memorable excursions to natural and historic sites.
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TUSCANY | JUNE 3-10
Cost: $5,000pp / $3,500pp
Location: Cortona, ItalyCortona has been my ‘home-away-from-home’ for over a decade. Let me share this magical hill town with you, and enjoy exploring the incredible wine and food of Tuscany. This trip includes 7-nights lodging in Cortona with excursions to taste at some of the best wineries in all of Italy. We will sit Montalcino, Montepulciano, Chianti Classico, and the Super-Tuscan capital of Bolgheri. Fabulous Tuscan dinners will feature the best local cuisine, complemented by brilliant wines.
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PIEMONTE | OCTOBER 13-20
Cost: $6,850pp
Location: Benevello, ItalyThis exciting food and wine tour of Piemonte is hosted by Barbara and Ron Seaver who have been guiding tours in Italy for 30 years. I will be joining as ‘sommelier-in-residence’, coordinating the wine excursions and helping to make the dining experiences memorable for all.
Past Tours & Tasting
Burgundy | May 19-23, 2024
Lodging, Hostellerie Cèdre, Beaune, France
No. Guests: 6
Winery Visits
Domaine Henri Gouges
Domaine du Clos Frantin
Maison Louis Jadot
Maison Joseph Drouhin
Highlight Meals/Tastings/Excursions
1991 Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru
Vineyard tours throughout Côte d’Or
Bistro de l’Hôtel
Ma Cuisine
Le Cèdre (1* Michelin)
Bistro Lucien
Le Soleil
Le Soufflout
Tuscany | May 23-May 30, 2023
Lodging, Hotel Oasi Neumann, Cortona, Italy
No. Guests: 17
Winery Visits
Avignonesi, Montepulciano
Poliziano, Montepulciano
Gianni Brunelli, Montalcino
Terralsole, Montalcino
Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico
Tenuta di Biserno, Bibbona
Highlight Meals/Tastings/Excursions
Enoteca San Guido (Sassicaia)
Solociccia (Dario Cecchini, Chianti Classico)
Del Brenna Jewelry (Cortona Syrah)
Taverna Pane e Vino (wines of Arnaldo Rossi)
Wine Dine & Shine (wines from Fonterutoli, Tuscany)
Montepulciano Town
Florence
Tuscany | May 17-May 23, 2023 – yoga retreat
Lodging, Hotel Oasi Neumann, Cortona, Italy
No. Guests: 10
(wine events provided to retreat participants)
Winery Visits
Altesino, Montalcino
Podere le Ripi, Montalcino
Highlight Meals/Tastings/Excursions
Eremo ‘Le Celle’, Cortona
Wine, Dine, and Shine (wines of Firiato - Sicily)
Taverna Pane e Vino (wines of Arnaldo Rossi)
Piemonte | June 1 -June 7, 2023
Lodging, Villa Monforte, Monforte d’Alba
No. Guests: 11
Winery Visits
Domenico Clerico, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo
Giovanni Manzone, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo
La Ça Nova, Barbaresco
Luigi Giordano, Barbaresco
Cordero di Montezemolo, La Morra, Barolo
Chiara Boschis, Barolo
Borgogno, Barolo
Oddero, La Morra, Barolo
Casa E. di Mirafiore, Serralunga d’alba, Barolo
Highlight Meals/Tastings/Excursions
Borgo Sant’Anna (1-star Michelin)
Piazza Duomo (3-star Michelin, Top 50 in the World)
Antimé
Ristorante Bovio
Villa Dinner withs special magnums
• 1998 Giovanni Manzone, Gramolere Riserva Barolo
• 1998 Cordero di Montezemolo, Barolo ‘Gorette’
Visit to Barolo town
Tuscany | June 10-June 17, 2023 – private tour
Lodging, Private Apartment, Cortona, Italy
No. Guests: 2
Winery Visits
Fattoria di Pupille, Maremma
Avignonesi, Montepulciano
Fuligni, Montalcino
Costanti, Montalcino
Querciabella, Chianti Classico
Ricasoli, Chianti Classico
Leuta, Cortona
Highlight Meals/Tastings/Excursions
Panzano (Dario Cecchini, Chianti Classico)
Taverna Pane e Vino (wines of Arnaldo Rossi)
Eremo ‘Le Celle’, Cortona
Wine, Dine, and Shine (wines of Cave do’Nice, Tuscany)
Taverna Pane e Vino (wines of Arnaldo Rossi)