FAQ

You may cancel 4 months in advance of your tour for a full refund. For a full disclosure on our cancellation policy, please see our Cancellation and Refund Policy page.

Yes, you can make monthly payments for any of our tours. A deposit of $1000 USD is required to secure your spot. Monthly payments will be agreed upon in our correspondence. The full payment is required 2 months before the tour of your choosing.

Yes, you do need travel insurance. We will not cover any of your medical expenses in a foreign country. We recommend Visitors Coverage or World Nomads.

The averages temperatures in Alba (Piedmonte) in November are 40/47F (Low/High) though it could bas low as the 30s F and as high as 66 F. We will track the weather forecast and let you know 2 weeks, and 1 week before your trip so you can pack accordingly. It doesn’t usually snow in November, but it’s possible it might rain.

Try to pack one heavy/warm waterproof jacket, waterproof boots, and layers. Northern Italians dress stylishly, and because of its proximity to Milan, Alba has fantastic clothing shops. We are going to be walking through cellars and possibly vineyards. All the villages are built on hills, so good walking shoes are a must. Pack layers for chilly outdoor weather and possibly warm indoor weather.

Preferably, pack only a carry-on with an extra backpack. There is limited room in the van or vehicles on the first and last day. Trunks for ocean crossings cannot be accommodated. Try to make it work with a carry-on or one medium bag between two people, please. You will need to be able to carry your bag up stairs in some hotels (France). We will not be doing it for you.

*Remember, as Rick Steves says, a carry-on is perfect for a week in Europe (we do 60 days with a carry-on), and leave room in it to bring back new clothes (or bring a backpack or collapsible duffel for your shopping acquisitions.

We went back and forth on this issue because I have been on a fifteen-day tour through Italy with an Importer (during my 40 years in the wine business) and he put us in countryside agroturismos. I hated it because I spent half a month in Italy and never got to see anything but wineries. Being “trapped” at the same rural hotel for dinner night after night becomes very boring, very quickly, yet this is what most tour companies do because hotels in the cities are too expensive. So, we pivoted and decided that our clients really would want to go out and explore in the evenings.

In Alba, we are staying at a guest house around the corner from the historical center. It has a private courtyard and gardens. You are within walking distance of cafés for an espresso or cappuccino and a few pastries in the morning. In the evening, find a nice vermouth or wine bar, and then continue on to dinner from a list of our recommendations. We trust this setup enables you to more fully connect with the local culture.

In Orange, France, we are staying at a boutique hotel with four suites. Each suite has its own living room, mini-fridge (for those famous French cheeses and butter), a separate bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a bathroom. It’s a 5-minute walk to the historical center, restaurants, and weekly market.

In Logroño, Spain, we are staying at a chain hotel on the edge of the historical center. We cannot drive through the historical center, so this was the best option. Our day trips will be outside of Logroño, but the evenings are yours to explore the tapas bars and creative restaurants in this magical city.

Breakfast is a separate cost. While we know it’s a convenient perk, we want you to enjoy the cafe culture in each city. We will list our favorite cafes near the hotels to start your day.

Lunches on our tour days are included unless otherwise noted. Lunch is typically between the hours of 12pm and 2pm, though some places will stay open as late as 3pm. During the lunchtime period, most wineries and stores are closed.

We highly recommend making reservations at fine dining restaurants before you arrive. If you need suggestions, let us know. Casual dining restaurants and wine bars do not require advanced booking.

Most Michelin-starred restaurants will open their reservation system 3 months in advance. Piazza Duomo opens up its reservation system 3 months in advance. You can sign up on their website to be notified. If you tell us you are interested in Piazza Duomo or any other high-end restaurant, we will also send you a reminder.

Most restaurants serve dinner between 7 pm – 10 pm.

If you have special dietary needs, please let us know. We will pass on this information to the restaurants we dine at together. We cannot make any guarantees that the restaurants will be able to accommodate your dietary needs, but most of the menus have vegetarian options.

It is your responsibility to research the city we are staying in for the tour, and know which restaurants meet your needs. Another reason we stay in a city is so that you can shop at a grocery store for any additional dietary requirements.

Our day tours will start between 9-10 am, and we plan on returning to the city between 3-4 pm. This all depends on how in-depth a winemaker gets during his/her talks.

For our Italy tour, we do have a wine and truffle pairing dinner scheduled from 3pm-10 pm on Saturday night. On this day, you will have the morning and early afternoon free to explore the White Truffle Fair. On Sunday, you’ll have most of the day to explore Asti for its Christmas Market and museums on your own.

For our Southern Rhone, France tour, we have one day in Chateauneuf-du-Pape visiting the wineries, having lunch, free time to wander, and the Les Printemps Wine Festival. This will be a longer day than our the rest of the week.

For our Rioja, Spain tour, all lunches are included from Day 2-6.

Please make every effort to arrive as healthy as possible. Bring any medications that you are currently on. If you know you have stomach issues or feel rundown when you travel, bring what you need to counter the effects. Wear a mask on the plane. If you feel sick and decide not to join us for a day of activity, your money will not be refunded.

No children are allowed on our tours. All adults must be 18 or older to consume alcohol responsibly.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we kindly ask you to refrain from mentioning these two topics. We will be surrounded by the most beautiful views you’ve ever seen, eating delicious regional food, and drinking the most elegant wines. You should have plenty of other topics to engage in.

If someone in the group feels the need to discuss and debate politics or religion and makes others feel uncomfortable, we will ask you just once to stop. If you refuse, you will forfeit any future activities. We will still provide you with a hotel, and a stipend for lunch, but you will not be joining us on the remaining tour days and will need to find your own way back on the last day of the tour.