Gourmet Wine & Food Experience in Puglia

Day 1

Upon arrival at Bari Airport, you’ll be met by your private driver for the journey to Matera, a unique hilltop town in southern Italy comprised of cave dwellings that’s the third oldest continuously inhabited town in the world.

Your hotel for the next three nights is equally unique, a luxurious cave-hotel set around a 13^th century church hewn into the rock. Settle in your gloriously romantic room and enjoy a glass of wine overlooking the Gravina canyon, before dinner reservations at a fine dining restaurant with superb views over the town and rock church.

Day 2

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Matera has undergone a dramatic transformation from a town in poverty to 2019 European Capital of Culture. After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be met by your private guide for a walking tour of this fascinating place.

Trace man’s occupation from the Palaeolithic to the present day, as you wind your way through cave dwellings and along narrow alleyways, gaining an understanding of daily life in the caves. Learn about the town’s turbulent past as you explore rock-hewn churches and local museums, and enjoy some free time for lunch (or ask us to include this as part of your tour).

Day 3

After breakfast at your hotel, your private guide will collect you for a full-day chauffeured wine tour of the Salento region in south-eastern Puglia. This warm, sunny region boasts rich, fertile soil, ideal for cultivating a range of wines including white, red, rosé and sparkling, though it’s perhaps best known for its local grape varieties such as negroamaro, primitivo, malvasia nera and fiano.

Your tour takes you to two of the region’s best-loved wineries, an Old World winery dating back to 1665 which produced Italy’s first rosé, and a family-run vineyard that’s equally renowned for its olive oil, jams and dips. Tour the vineyards, learn about their unique terroir, climate and grapes, enjoy tastings of their wines and other goodies, and savour a fantastic vineyard lunch paired with wine.

Day 4

Following breakfast at your hotel, check out of Matera and hop in your private car heading for the petite seaside town of Savelletri. Along the way, you’ll enjoy several stops introducing you to the Apulian food and wine of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its historic trulli – dry stone huts with conical roofs.

Enjoy a tour and tasting at a local vineyard, discover more about ancient winemaking techniques at the Albea Wine Museum, savour local cheeses at a dairy, and make the most of some free time to wander amongst the trulli.

After a fascinating day, check into your castle-like hotel in Savelletri, built in the style of a traditional Puglian village.

Day 5

Discover two of Puglia’s most popular seaside towns in this full-day guided tour of Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. A traditional fishing village, Monopoli old town is a delightful jumble of arches and alleyways, lined with whitewashed houses, noble palaces and boutique shops. Explore its ancient churches and marvel at the picturesque working harbour.

Perched atop dramatic sea cliffs, Polignano a Mare enjoys panoramic views over the sea. Wander around the historic centre, take in the views from its many balconies, and discover beautiful old churches and picture-perfect beaches.

Your tour includes a boat trip so you can admire the town from the sea and visit sea cliffs, and you’ll round off the day with dinner in a fine dining restaurant set in a natural sea cave with sublime views.

Day 6

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be driven to the heart of the countryside to embrace the flavours of Puglia. Discover the secrets of Apulian cuisine at a hands-on cooking class, wander through ancient olive groves learning about the cultivation of extra virgin olive oil and enjoy a tasting of three different oils, then enjoy a vineyard lunch among the vines paired with wines from the estate.

Back at your hotel, you have a little free time to laze around the pools, unwind on the private beaches, or revitalise with a treatment in the spa.

Day 7

It’s the final day of your trip today, but you may still have time to squeeze in another swim before your transfer to the airport.

If you fancy extending your Italian adventure, why not head to the opposite coastline to explore the Amalfi Coast or venture further west to Sicily?