La Dolce Vita Wine Tours - Epicurean Tours

New in 2010: PASSION FOR PORT

Porto's Douro river is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. It's also one of the most beautiful. Follow Porto's journey down the Douro river, from upland vineyards to venerable aging lodges in Oporto. With 2007 being a Vintage year of stellar quality, this is a great time to go!

New: XTREME TUSCANY

This wine-intensive tour hones in on Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans, delving into some of Tuscany's most famous cult wines, pioneers, iconoclasts, and historic names. Find out why Brunello reins supreme, what makes Super Tuscans so super, and why Sassicaia inspires such awe.

New: XTREME PIEDMONT

This is a wine-intensive tour for enophiles and wine educators that features marquee names in Barolo and Barbaresco. Get to know Piedmont wine like a pro while savouring some of Italy's most elegant cuisine.

Italy's legendary Barolo and Barbaresco hail from Piedmont, in the foothills of the Alps. A gourmand's delight, Piedmont is equally famous for its truffles and elegant cuisine. Enjoy a cooking lesson in the guides' 15th century townhouse, and a medieval festival in the fall.

The Slow Food movement, born in Piedmont, celebrates local food traditions and biodiversity around the world. Every two years, it holds a huge food fair, Salone del Gusto, in Turin. Enjoy two days in Turin, then four more tasting truffles and Barolo in the Langhe hills.

A 3-day mini-tour in Piedmont during the height of truffle season. Visit Alba's truffle fair, see a truffle dog put through its paces, and taste these fragrant tubers paired with Barolo.

Since antiquity, semi-dried grapes have worked their magic in Valpolicella, the wine zone near Verona. Today Amarone is the most luscious expression of this ancient style. Discover its many facets, along with the new face of Soave. In addition, explore Verona, home to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Visit the ancient heartland of Tuscany and its three historic wine zones: Chianti Classico, Montalcino, and Montepulciano. Glorious landscapes, Renaissance hill-towns, art treasures, and pecorino cheese await.

Experience Greek temples, Byzantine cathedrals, and the Mediterranean sun and sea in all their glory. Western Sicily also offers the old port of Marsala and a new breed of innovative winemaker, as well as ancient fusion cuisine born of the island's multicultural past.

Explore the past and future of Spanish wine. Rioja and Ribera del Duero are two wine regions now enjoying a dynamic renaissance. Sample the multitude of styles, from classic Rioja to modern alta expresion wines. Plus, visit Burgos to see Spain's largest cathedral, and Bilboa to peruse its most modern museum, the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim.