2020 Wines of Tuscany Tour
April 28 to May 6, 2020
San Gimignano | Monteriggioni | Chianti | Siena | Poliziano | Montepulciano | Pienza | Montalcino | Optional extension to Florence
Hosted by Atlantic Canada's Top Sommelier, Lesley Quinn & Trusted Travel Advisor, Frances Gertsch
Our Itinerary
Day 1 - April 28 - Fly from Canada to Italy
Depart from your preferred Canadian gateway on an overnight flight to Florence.
Day 2 - April 29 - Arrive in Italy
Hotel Relais de la Cappucina & Spa
Arrive in Florence where we will be met by our driver and tour guide. We will take a coach to the hotel where we will check into our hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a welcome reception with a sparkling wine tasting, led by Lesley, followed by a 3-course dinner at the hotel.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Sparkling wine tasting with Lesley Quinn |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina & Spa |
| Included Meals: | Dinner |
Day 3 - April 30 - San Gimignano - Monteriggioni
Aerial view of San Gimignano
After breakfast, depart on our dedicated motorcoach for the town of San Gimignano, southwest of Florence. This walled city is famous for its medieval towers and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we will visit the Abbazia Monte Olivetto Estate Winery* for a tour, tasting, and lunch where we will learn more about the Vernaccia grape variety. We will then have time to visit and shop in San Gimignano before departing for another walled Tuscan town, which looks out over the Chianti region: Monterriggioni, which is known for it's medieval fortifications and watch towers. Once we return to the hotel, we will participate in a guided tasting of the white wines of Tuscany with Lesley before having dinner.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Tour, tasting, & lunch at Abbazia Monte Olivetto Estate Winery White wines of Tuscany tasting with Lesley Quinn |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 4 - May 1 - Day at Leisure
The beautiful town of Siena, which you have the option to visit on this day of leisure.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. You can take an optional tour to Siena, the central town of Tuscany whose historic centre -- including the Piazza del Campo (Il Campo) at its heart -- has been declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. We will have an English-speaking local guide join us for half a day and a visit to Siena's gothic cathedral, The Duomo, is included. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Upon your return to the hotel, join Lesley for a guided tasting of the red wines of Tuscany before dinner. Dinner at the hotel is included.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Red wines of Tuscany tasting with Lesley Quinn |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 5 - May 2 - Chianti Region
Staircase at Antinori Winery whose building was designed by Italian Firm Archea Associati
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for a tour, tasting, and lunch at Antinori Winery*. After a delicious meal in a beautiful setting we will depart for the Fontodi Winery* in the heart of Chianti Classico in the valley called the "Conca d'Oro" (the golden shell). Both of these estates have wines on Wine Spectator's "Top 100" in the world list. After our visit, we will depart for the town of Panzano, a town located almost directly in the middle of Florence and Siena. We will have some time to wander and then will have dinner at Officina Della Bistecca (which has the BEST steak Florentine around) before heading back to the hotel.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Tour, tasting & lunch at Antinori Winery Tasting at Fontodi Winery Dinner of Steak Florentine at Officina Della Bistecca |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 6 - May 3 - Poliziano - Montepulciano
The Albergo Posta Macucci hot springs in Montepulciano
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we depart by coach for Poliziano, which will help us understand how Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is different from Chianti. After enjoying the town, we will have lunch at Godimento diVino in Montepulciano. After some free time, we'll head for the outdoor hot springs at Albergo Posta Macucci. This evening's dinner will include a guided tasting of Sangiovese with Lesley.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Lunch and wine at Godimento diVino Sangiovese tasting with Lesley Quinn |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Fresh tagliatelle. One of the pastas you will learn more about, make, and taste during the optional Tuscan cooking class.
After breakfast, you have the option to enjoy a day at leisure or to join a Tuscan cooking class in the kitchen of a local villa. You will be guided in the preparation of a complete Tuscan meal while learning the techniques of homemade pasta, such as ravioli, tagliatelle, and gnocchi. Sit down and feast on your dishes, complimented by local wine. Return to the hotel after lunch. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Tuscan Cooking Class with Lunch (Optional) |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch (optional) |
Day 8 - May 5 - Pienza and Montalcino
The view from Boccon diVino, the Michelin-starred restaurant where we will have our farewell dinner.
Following breakfast, we will depart for Pienza, designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Landscape. Pienza is a tiny village built to represent the "Utopian City" with a perfect mix of architecture, food, and tradition. Here we will have lunch at La Terrazza del Chiastro. Following lunch we will visit Biondi Santi* -- the estate tand then have free time to explore the town of Montalcino, which is immersed in the breathtaking Val d'Orcia National Park. The Biondi Santi estate is the father of the Brunello di Montalcino style of wines. Our final day on tour will end with a spectacular meal at the Michelin-starred Boccon diVino, overlooking the Tuscan countryside.
| Wine & Food Experiences: | Lunch at La Terrazza del Chiastro Tasting at Biondi Santi Dinner at Michelin-starred Boccon diVino |
| Accommodation: | Hotel Relais de la Cappucina |
| Included Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 9 - May 6 - End of Tour
Our tour ends today after breakfast. The group charter will return you to the Florence airport. You may choose to extend your stay with a few days in Florence or continue on to other magnificent cities and wine regions in Italy. Arrivederci Italia!
| Included Meals: | Breakfast |
About Your Hosts
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Lesley Quinn, Atlantic Canada's Top SommelierLesley was born and raised in Prince Edward Island. Her first opportunity in wine came as Junior Sommelier at the Ritz Carlton Cayman Islands. They supported her as she completed the first two levels of the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers Association to become a Certified Sommelier. Work has taken her to Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, and Turkey. Wine has taken her to France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Chile, and California. In 2017, she won the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers Top Somm Competition Atlantic Division. Now back on PEI she’s sharing her knowledge under the guise of StellarSomm Wine Experts. Ask her what her favourite wine is and she says, “I love all my babies equally.” Lesley is excited to partner with Stewart Travel Group to take guests into the world of wine through travel. |
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Frances Gertsch, Trusted Travel AdvisorGrowing up in Alberta, Frances always loved travelling and exploring the great outdoors. Her passion turned into a career after she followed her mother’s wise advice: “Do what you love!” She took her first solo trip by bus from Edmonton to Calgary at seven years old to visit family friends and she’s never looked back. Since she’s travelled in the arctic by bush plane, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, taken a train to mountain villages in Switzerland, relaxed on the beaches of the Caribbean, slept in an underground hotel in the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, remembered Canada’s fallen in the battlefields of Europe, wandered the hip streets of Nuuk, Greenland, and was guided through the Tower of London by a Yeoman Warder. She just returned from co-hosting the 2019 Great Canadian War Memorials Tour with her partner and fellow Trusted Travel Advisor Kelvin Jones. Growing up with a father as a chef, she was always spoiled with amazing food and has an appreciation for great wine. She's looking forward to hosting her next tour to Tuscany with Lesley this spring. |
Check out our list of other curated wine and food tours offered by our trusted suppliers
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions or are ready to book, please contact us!
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Frances Gertsch & Kelvin JonesTrusted Travel AdvisorsStewart Travel Group francesandkelvin@stewarttravelgroup.ca 902.894.9389 ext. 1 902.940.4499 Follow us on Facebook |
Lesley QuinnCertified SommelierStellarSomm Wine Experts lesley@stellarsomm.com 403.835.5939 Follow us on Facebook |
Or contact any member of the Stewart Travel Group team.
We'd be pleased to assist you!
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