Wine tours in Puglia
Trip Inspiration
Puglia is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets and is comprised of sun-bleached landscapes, silver olive groves, picturesque seascapes and memorable hilltop and coastal towns. It is a lush, largely flat, farming region, skirted by a long coast that alternates between glittering limestone precipices and long sandy beaches.
The heel of Italy just into the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and the waters of both are stunningly beautiful, veering between translucent emerald-green and dusky powder blue. Its extensive coastline bears the marks of many conquering invaders: the Normans, the Spanish, the Turks, the Swabians and the Greeks. Yet, despite its diverse influences, Puglia has its own distinct and authentic identity, and of course some fantastic wines.
These are simply handpicked suggestions for the kind of holiday you might have in Puglia. Yours will be tailored, and refined until it matches you completely.
Popular Puglia Wine Experiences
More about Puglia
Puglia comprises everything that you need from southern Italy: charming countryside dotted with olive groves, turquoise beaches, whitewashed villages, and long, cosy lunches washed down with local wine. Puglia is the gateway to la dolce vita.
Architecture
With such a sumptuously diverse history, Puglia houses some true architectural and cultural treasures.
Trulli are traditional rustic homes dating back to the 14th century, creating a fairytale landscape in Alberobello with their beehive-shaped roofs and white tones. Warm in winter and cool in the summer months, in less crowded areas, people still live there!
The maze-like city of Ostuni sits on a hilltop and is packed with narrow alleys. Fall in love with the stunning views as you walk around. Or visit Castel del Monte, a fascinating octagonal citadel that was built in the 1240s.
Lecce, the ‘Florence of the south’ is one of Puglia’s largest cities and is known for its delightful baroque architecture. With the many churches and noble palazzi, it offers a magnificent peek into the old culture and commerce days.
Beaches
Puglia offers some of the finest weather in Italy and its beaches meet the clear blue of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas on either side.
One of the famous spots is Polignano a Mare, sitting on a cliff overlooking the sea. Besides the town’s rich history, it boasts pristine white pebble beaches facing the cliffs.
Gargano, replete with fishing villages and fine sandy beaches, is the place to explore secret caves and picturesque coves.
For a beautiful beach to relax, Puglia is home to the Maldives of Italy, Marina di Pescoluse.
For a healthy balance of activity and relaxation, Martina Franca hosts the summer opera festival, the Festivale della Valle d’Itria. When you are taking things easy you will certainly have a fine choice of enticing dishes and wines to keep you company.
Cuisine
In a land where the cuisine is all-important, Puglia’s cucina povera (peasant cooking) is legendary. Although boasting some of Italy’s best food and wines, in some places it’s rare to hear a foreign voice. But in July and August Puglia becomes a huge party, with sagre (festivals, usually involving food) and thousands of Italians heading down here for their annual break.
To enjoy Apulian cuisine, take a pasta making class with locals, taste the exceptional olive oil, or see the nonnas in the streets of Bari making orecchiette (little ears). Head to Gargano to eat fresh fish from a traditional trabucchi -wooden fishing platforms on the sea- or even help catch it!
Puglia is no short of flavoursome treats, check our travel guide to make sure you taste them all!
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