Customer Feedback:

June 15th 2010

I just recently went on Italy and Wine's Montalcino excursion and I absolutely loved the experience. This all day event consisted of a tour of two different wineries in the Montalcino area with an exceptional lunch in between. Even if you are not a wine lover, undoubtedly I would suggest you go on the trip. It is a cultural learning that can not be read about in books you must experience it! Before I went on this tour I was not a wine lover, but that sure changed. I don’t want to spoil everything for you, so I will just tell you a bit of what you do. Learn about the way the industry works the process of growing the grapes and then the techniques used to create the fine wines of the area. At the end you get to learn how to fully enjoy a fine glass of wine from the smell, appearance and taste. After your guide teaches you these things you will never look at a glass a wine the same again! I suggest that anyone that is remotely interested in wine should go on the Italy and Wine of Florence wine tour.

Eric Marco Dedola, New York, USA

May 1st 2010

We had a wonderful day going to Montalcino and trying the amazing Brunello wine! The people were amazing, especially the very cosy and rustic vineyard that was solely managed by one guy! Highly recommend this trip if you are in Florence. I would go again. Also loved the gorgeous and playful dog cookie on the vineyard...

Esmita Charani, London, United Kingdom

August 5th 2009

I randomly chose Italy and Wine run by Vittorio Del Bono Venezze online for a Brunello tour this August, and was very pleased with the tour and what I learned during it. Vittorio's knowledge of Tuscan wines is tremendous, and he spent much of the drive between Florence and Montalcino providing a very helpful education us about Italy's classification system and on the various wines we would encounter in Italy generally.

The two Brunello vineyards selected by Vittorio were both very good, but their differences in terms of setting, approach and philosophy on winemaking made for a particularly interesting tour. The first - Casanova dei Neri - was fairly large and has an interesting new building built into a small hillside, rendering it nearly invisible from the road. This winery has produced numerous top-ranked and award-winning Brunellos, and the facility employs both modern and traditional techniques and tools to produce these great wines.

The second, called Giacomo, was tiny, producing only 8,000 or so bottles per year, including just several dozen bottles of grappa. All of its wines are organic. This winery does not export to the United States, so I feel we were given a very rare opportunity to try and buy this wine. The owner/enologist himself led us through the tasting, and his passion for the wines was infectious - he actually poured a glass of his future 2007 Brunello for each of us straight from the vat (and it was wonderful!).

Lunch at a trattoria serving traditional Tuscan foods was also fantastic - one of the best meals I had in Italy this summer.

I really enjoyed this trip, and highly recommend Italy and Wine.

Jennifer Babcock, Washington, USA