Southern Italy and Sicily 2022 (14-days) September 5-18, 2022 Plus optional extension to Malta Sept. 18-21
What an opportunity! Fewer tourists than Tuscany or Rome and amazing sights like the cave-dwelling town of Matera, the "beehive" houses of Alberobello, and the "Roman ruins-meet-the-Renaissance" city of Lecce. Volcanic wine caves carved from tufa hold delicious bottles of Aglianico reds. And then we reach Sicily, which is both part of Italy and a country unto itself, with beautiful mountains (including an active volcano) plus an incredible collection of ancient Greek ruins to explore. Along the way we'll also taste amazing wines unique to Italy that are rapidly growing in fame among wine professionals - rich fruit-filled reds and elegant whites. After Sicily we're also offering an optional three-day extension in the tiny island nation of Malta just off the Sicily coast. Here we find a unique language spoken nowhere else and get to know a culture formed from centuries as a focal point for Mediterranean trade and conflict. Malta has some of the oldest stone burial buildings on earth - older than the pyramids! Malta is living history. As on all our journeys, we enjoy luxury hotels, gourmet as well as local meals, and private winery visits in a small group of like-minded travelers who love wine and food. The trip is half about wine, half about history, scenery, art, and local culture. Click to request more information Covid-19 note: All participants on Exploring Wine trips in 2021 and 2022 must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in advance of enrollment (including those who may have recovered from the disease). All countries we will visit on our trips are expected to welcome only vaccinated tourists.