Indulgent Food & Wine Tour of Milan

The first sights of Milan will come into view when you land at Malpensa Airport on to begin your immersive, 8-day food and wine tour of the city. A private transfer will greet you upon your arrival and lead you to your centrally located and luxurious hotel. You can become acquainted with the hotel and your surroundings before a local guide greets you to begin an evening walking tour along the city’s canals.

As the sun sets, you will begin your journey around the city’s streets. The first delectable smells of expertly prepared dishes will emanate from the many restaurants that you pass. The tour will lead to the Navigli Canal area, which is Milan’s canal system that dates back hundreds of years, and today, the Navigli Canal is a scenic place to walk and is a great area to sample some of Milan’s amazing food. You can hear some history of the area and see the Darsena, which is Milan’s main dock, as you walk alongside the peaceful canal waters. Then, you will venture into one of Milan’s authentic restaurants for a delicious dinner.

The meal will begin with fresh bread dipped in perfectly seasoned olive oil. You can also have a sip or two of wine before you indulge in the main course, which will be a mouthwatering osso bucco. This braised veal dish is typically cooked in wine and vegetables, and the meat will be so tender that it will seemingly melt in your mouth. The osso bucco will be paired with a creamy polenta, and you will savor every last bite of the perfectly balanced meal. You will then culminate your dinner with a sweet Italian chocolate tart for dessert before enjoying the relaxing stroll back to the hotel as you end the first fantastic day of the trip.

You will begin your second day with a tasty breakfast and freshly brewed cappuccino at your hotel. Soon, your local guide will greet you, and you will venture out on a private tour of the beautiful Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral. The church is one of the largest in the world, and its size and grandeur will surely impress you. As you walk around the gorgeous, marble floors, you can marvel at the ornate interior with its many colorful stained-glass windows. You will be led to the rooftop of the Cathedral for a truly memorable experience, where you take in the sights of the city from this unique viewpoint.

In the afternoon, your exploration into the food of Milan will continue with a delicious culinary tour. Your first stop will be a local pizzeria. The smell of the pizza as it bakes in the antique wood-fired oven will be heavenly, and you will savor the crunchy crust, fresh tomato, and salty cheese of your delicious slice of Italian pizza. Next, you will make a stop into a meat shop known as a salumeria. Here, you can sample some of the cured meats. The dried sausage and salami will be perfectly salted and absolutely delightful. With a sparkling water in hand, you will continue your tour by transferring to a local restaurant to taste veal cutlet Milanese. The dish is a staple of the city, and you will savor every bite of the tender, fried cutlet.

The final stop of today’s food tour will be a pastry shop. The sweet smell of the shop’s many confections will emanate from the doorway, and you can try the signature dessert, a cannoncini, during your visit. The fresh puff pastry and horn-shaped dessert will be filled with amazing homemade sweet cream and will be the ideal way to end this tour. With the flavors of the sweet dessert still on your taste buds, you will return to the hotel for the evening for a relaxing end to your day.

As the day begins, you can watch the sun rise over the captivating city of Milan. The Lombardy Region of Italy is home to some of the most amazing varieties of wine, and today, you will have the very unique opportunity to visit two wineries and sample some of their amazing blends. After breakfast, your private transfer will lead you on the scenic journey through the region. Soon, you will arrive at the first winery in the Oltrepo Pavese area of the Province of Pavia. This section of Pavia is known for its wine production and is home to some of the best wineries in Lombardy. You can admire the picturesque hills in the background as you are led around the vineyard before going inside for a tour of the winery and to sample some of its spectacular wines.

The Pinot Nero will be light and fruity, and the Barbera Frizzante will be fragrant and have just the right amount of fizz. Your tour will then continue to another nearby winery. Here, you will uncover the history of the family-owned winery while you are led around on a private tour of the cellar. You can munch on some fresh bread, salty cheese, and briny olives as you sample more delicious blends of local wine. Bonarda wine is one of the most well-known varieties from the area, and you will appreciate its sweet scent and rich flavor; every sip will be delightful. Once the wine tasting concludes, you will board your private transfer and return to Milan. The balance of the day will be at your leisure, and you can continue to explore all the city has to offer.

The smell of freshly brewed espresso will be a welcoming wake-up call this morning. After breakfast, your expert guide will greet you to begin a private tour of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The church dates back to the 15th century, and you will admire its brick exterior and unique dome as you enter. Once inside, you will learn about some of the history of the ancient church as you are led to the refectory, or dining hall, of the former convent. It is here that you will have the chance to witness Leonardo da Vinci’s renowned Last Supper mural. The realistic features and details of the painting will be a marvelous sight that you will not soon forget if you ever do.

In the afternoon, you can indulge in a light lunch at an outdoor cafe and enjoy some time to discover some of the city’s many intriguing shops. Then, you will venture to a local bar for an aperitif tasting. Known in Italian as an aperitivo, these drinks are customarily had in the early evening and are intended to help increase your appetite for dinner. The bar will be filled with locals and tourists alike who will all be eager to share some drinks and chat. One of the best-known aperitivos in Milan is the Negroni Sbagliato. The cocktail is a combination of Campari, Vermouth, and Prosecco, and you will find it tasty and delightful. You can sample a few specialties before leaving the bar to delight in another delicious dinner and evening in Milan.

Today will feature another exploration into the gastronomy of Italy. After breakfast, you will be led by your private transfer for the scenic Emilia-Romagna Region. You will soon arrive at a Prosciutto di Parma factory in the city of Parma. The prosciutto from this city is world-renowned and favored for its exquisite quality and taste. You will be able to witness how the ham is cured and aged while you are led around the factory on a private tour. The delectable smell of the prosciutto may make your mouth water, and you will savor every slice that you are able to sample.

The next stop of the day’s culinary adventure will be an authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factory. Parmigiano-Reggiano is another specialty of the region, and as your guide leads you on a private tour, you will learn how the popular cheese is made and aged. Then, you can indulge in multiple tastings. The sharp and slightly nutty flavor will dazzle your taste buds and be absolutely delicious. After the tour concludes, you will board your private transfer and head to the last stop of the day: the city of Modena. Here, you will have the exclusive opportunity to visit a farmhouse, known as an acetaia, which is where authentic balsamic vinegar is made and see the wooden barrels that the vinegar is stored in as you learn about the lengthy aging process of going from grapes to vinegar.

The balsamic vinegar is aged for an astonishing minimum of 12 years and often up to 25 years. This special aging process and tradition is what makes authentic balsamic vinegar from Modena so highly regarded. You will get the exclusive chance to sample some of the famous vinegar and will delight in every bit of the intense but slightly sweet flavor. After the final tasting, your private transfer will return you to your luxurious hotel, where you will have the rest of the evening to spend however you see fit.

A sweet Italian pastry and coffee for breakfast will be an excellent way to begin the day before departing your hotel to visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping mall. Your expert guide will provide some history about the mall as you admire its unique glass and iron design, before having several hours to discover the many shops and boutiques. Italy’s best-known, high-end fashion brands from Versace to Fendi will be yours to explore. The sweet fragrance of luxurious Italian leather will be a delight to your senses, and sparkling jewelry can be found at every turn. You will quickly understand why Milan is known around the world as a fashion capital. Later, you can indulge in a tasty tomato and mozzarella panini from one of the mall’s elegant cafes before your visit concludes.

In the afternoon, an exclusive cooking experience awaits you. Once you are ready, you can venture to a local culinary school for a private pasta-making class that will teach you the coveted process of making the perfect pasta dough from professional chefs. From the type of flour to tips on how to knead the dough to perfection, you will discover every step as you throw on your apron and make your own fresh dough. You will be able to smell the sweet basil as you learn the steps to making a simple but savory tomato sauce before rolling out the dough and cutting it into penne. Sipping on a glass of wine as your pasta cooks to the ideal al dente texture will relax even the tensest of travelers. After all the hard work, you will delight in eating your delicious dish. This class will be a memorable experience and a great way to end another wonderful day of uncovering the many delectable flavors of Milan.

Today, you can enjoy breakfast at your hotel before an expert guide greets you to begin the day’s tour. Today will feature a visit to Milan’s Brera District, which has an intriguing neighborhood that is known for its fantastic art and cuisine. The first destination will be the Brera Art Gallery. The Gallery is part of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and is renowned for its vast collection of paintings. You can see amazing works by great artists such as Raphael and Caravaggio as you are led around on a private tour. Ancient stories will come to life as you view the many realistic and detailed paintings.

After your tour of the Gallery concludes, it will be time to taste some of the area’s great food, and a local trattoria or restaurant will be your first culinary stop. The delectable smells that emanate from the doorway will lead you inside, and here, you will have the chance to try an arancini di risotto Milanese. Arancini are rice balls, and in Milan, they are made with saffron rice, which is the main ingredient of Milanese risotto. The rice ball will be perfectly fried and golden and absolutely delicious.

A short walk will take you to a nearby and authentic gourmet deli. The foods on display here will make your mouth water, and you can taste a mondeghili meatball. These amazing, specialty meatballs often contain different varieties of meat and cheese and will be served warm from the fryer. You can sip on a refreshing acqua minerale, or mineral water, as you transfer to the final stop, which will be a local gelateria or ice cream shop.

Your sweet tooth will then be satisfied as you sample multiple flavors from vanilla to pistachio to chocolate, each one being tastier than the last. This very well may be the creamiest ice cream you have ever had. After the last bite of gelato, you will be returned to your hotel for another wonderful evening.

As your trip concludes, you can reminisce on all the unforgettable memories you have made in addition to the delicious foods that you have discovered. With coffee in hand, you can walk to a local outdoor market for one more culinary experience. Sweet smells will fill the air, and you can stop by a fruit vendor to taste fresh grapes and melon before sampling some freshly baked bread. You can also stop for some fantastic artisan chocolate, but after the last vendor, you will return to your hotel, where your private transfer will be waiting to bring you to Malpensa Airport for your return flight. After your amazing trip, you will leave Italy feeling completely enamored with Milan and its delicious cuisine.