Puglia + Basilicata
Wine + Culture Tour
Next Tours in Puglia + Basilicata
Welcome to Puglia + Basilicata
The “heel” of Italy is no such thing. An endless crystal blue coast, ancient olive groves, fields of golden grain, sun-kissed hilltop towns, opulent Baroque architecture, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites abound in every direction. Its natural and historical beauty is startling.
Tasting through these two regions is a real treat too: On our 7 Day – 6 Night Wine + Culture Tour of Puglia and Basilicata, we will get to know the full-bodied and unmistakable Primitivo, Zinfandel’s rowdy Italian relative, as well as Aglianico (Basilicata’s vinous claim to fame), Negroamaro, Bombino Nero, Malvasia Nera, Aleatico and Uva di Troia—all wonderful and expressive reds. In the white wine camp, your palate will be pleased by the brightness of Verdeca and Bombino Bianco, the complexity of Fiano and the beautiful floral fireworks of Malvasia and Moscato.
Each of these will be enjoyed with the local gastronomic treasures: mouth-watering cheeses like burrata and scamorza, Altamura’s acclaimed bread, one of the most respected olive oils in Italy, incredibly fresh seafood, the native orecchiette pasta…for starters. For the main course, you will have to join us!
Puglia + Basilicata Tour Highlights
Each of our tours is designed to offer an authentic experience, where local traditions meet the pleasure of fine wine and rich heritage. From renowned wineries to charming villages, we’ll guide you through the people, places, and flavors that make every destination truly unique.
Enjoy a workshop on the region’s famous bread
Private tour of the ancient city of Matera, the European Union’s Capital of Culture in 2019
Taste the most important wines from Puglia and Basilicata at top wineries with your sommelier guide
Explore the enchanting towns of Alberobello, Lecce and Ostuni
Visit to Castel del Monte, an impressive octagonal, thirteenth-century castle
Unesco World Heritage Sites in Puglia + Basilicata
(All Sites are typically on the tour)
Cuisine of Puglia + Basilicata
Puglia and Basilicata have been called the bread basket of Italy. The ancient grains they grow are used to make the best bread in Italy (pane di Matera and pane di Altamura), focaccia, panzerotti (cheese-stuffed fried pizza dough) as well as the many pastas they make, orecchiette being the star. Incredibly fresh seafood is found throughout Puglia, while Basilicata leans toward lamb, sausage and pork. If you are a burrata and mozarella fan, you will be very happy in Puglia and Basilicata; both are made daily in the many caseifici (dairies). Cultivated and wild produce, such as tomatoes, eggplants, fennel, zucchini, artichokes, asparagus, bitter greens and fragrant Mediterranean herbs are menu staples, often simply prepared with the prized local Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Puglia and Basilicata drizzled on top. And, dessert? All the gelato you could want, delicate pastries and fruit tarts…if you have room.
Your Extraordinary Accommodations in Puglia + Basilicata
The uniqueness of the boutique hotels La Dolce Vigna has found for your week-long wine tour will leave you breathless. For the first three nights, we stay in Matera's sassi—the labyrinthine historic center carved into a canyon. Our home for the last three nights is an elegant masseria—a typical Pugliese farmhouse—complete with its own trulli (the iconic conical huts of Puglia)!
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Puglia + Basilicata Tour Details
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We depart from a convenient meeting spot in Bari's city center for Castel del Monte, a commanding 13th-century castle, which is also the proud name of one of Puglia's prized wine regions. Following our visit to the castle, we will head to lunch at a stately winery in the area and be given a tour of their estate. Enjoy the wildflowers and olive groves out your window as we drive to Matera in Basilicata. After getting situated in our evocative hotel, we will meet for an evening stroll and dinner in this magical city.
With a leisurely breakfast under our belts, we will be taken on a private walking tour of Matera. Learn of its ancient past and take photos of the remarkable views the city offers. Lunch will be at an osteria beloved by locals. In the afternoon, we will drive to Altamura where we will learn about their sought-after bread and make our dinner: homemade pasta with several sauces, focaccia, and of course the local wine
Today, we pass the rolling green hills of Basilicata on our drive to Vulture in the northern part of the region. We will get to meet two star winemakers of the outstanding Aglianico produced here. Lunch will be served at one of the wineries. In the afternoon, we'll return to Matera, where you are free to take in the sunset, shop, enjoy an aperitivo and/ or rest. Dinner is on your own. We will provide you with a list of some of our favorite restaurants in the city.
We say goodbye to Matera this morning, making our way to Gioia del Colle, an important wine appellation in Puglia. We will tour a special, family-run winery and then taste their wonderful wines paired with a lovely lunch al fresco. Our next stop is the enchanting town of Alberobello, famous for its dense village of conical huts called trulli. You'll have some free time to explore the town on your own and get your photography fix before we drive down the stunning Valle d'Itria—speckled with trulli and centenarian olive groves—to our elegant masseria (traditional Pugliese farmhouse) just outside of Ostuni. Enjoy the time to unpack and explore the grounds. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Enjoy an easy morning in the countryside, savoring every sip of your cappuccino while writing a postcard or two. We'll then head out to Manduria, the heart of Puglia's most esteemed wine and a close relative to Zinfandel—Primitivo. We'll walk the vineyards at one winery and be treated to a fabulous lunch overlooking the estate. Our next stop has perhaps the most respected winemaker in the area. It will be a treat to taste through his line of finely-crafted wines. Dinner tonight will be at a special restaurant in the "white city" of Ostuni.
A trip to Puglia would not be complete without a visit to the Baroque city of Lecce. Marvel in the ornate architecture as we walk around with our guide. Lunch will be at a gastronomic gem in the historic center. We'll then head to a beautifully restored masseria that is home to a stellar winery in the province of Lecce. Kick your feet up back at the hotel or rest them poolside. Dinner will be in the nearby Locorotondo, another darling hilltop town in the Valle d'Itria.
There will be some time to do any final packing before driving up the coast to Polignano al Mare, a gorgeous coastal city perched above the Adriatic Sea. Here we will enjoy a farewell lunch with exquisite seafood and toast to a fabulous trip together! Afterward, two stops will be made: the Bari BRI Airport and the train station.
We depart from a convenient meeting spot in Bari's city center for Castel del Monte, a commanding 13th-century castle, which is also the proud name of one of Puglia's prized wine regions. Following our visit to the castle, we will head to lunch at a stately winery in the area and be given a tour of their estate. Enjoy the wildflowers and olive groves out your window as we drive to Matera in Basilicata. After getting situated in our evocative hotel, we will meet for an evening stroll and dinner in this magical city.
With a leisurely breakfast under our belts, we will be taken on a private walking tour of Matera. Learn of its ancient past and take photos of the remarkable views the city offers. Lunch will be at an osteria beloved by locals. In the afternoon, we will drive to Altamura where we will learn about their sought-after bread and make our dinner: homemade pasta with several sauces, focaccia, and of course the local wine
Today, we pass the rolling green hills of Basilicata on our drive to Vulture in the northern part of the region. We will get to meet two star winemakers of the outstanding Aglianico produced here. Lunch will be served at one of the wineries. In the afternoon, we'll return to Matera, where you are free to take in the sunset, shop, enjoy an aperitivo and/ or rest. Dinner is on your own. We will provide you with a list of some of our favorite restaurants in the city.
We say goodbye to Matera this morning, making our way to Gioia del Colle, an important wine appellation in Puglia. We will tour a special, family-run winery and then taste their wonderful wines paired with a lovely lunch al fresco. Our next stop is the enchanting town of Alberobello, famous for its dense village of conical huts called trulli. You'll have some free time to explore the town on your own and get your photography fix before we drive down the stunning Valle d'Itria—speckled with trulli and centenarian olive groves—to our elegant masseria (traditional Pugliese farmhouse) just outside of Ostuni. Enjoy the time to unpack and explore the grounds. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Enjoy an easy morning in the countryside, savoring every sip of your cappuccino while writing a postcard or two. We'll then head out to Manduria, the heart of Puglia's most esteemed wine and a close relative to Zinfandel—Primitivo. We'll walk the vineyards at one winery and be treated to a fabulous lunch overlooking the estate. Our next stop has perhaps the most respected winemaker in the area. It will be a treat to taste through his line of finely-crafted wines. Dinner tonight will be at a special restaurant in the "white city" of Ostuni.
A trip to Puglia would not be complete without a visit to the Baroque city of Lecce. Marvel in the ornate architecture as we walk around with our guide. Lunch will be at a gastronomic gem in the historic center. We'll then head to a beautifully restored masseria that is home to a stellar winery in the province of Lecce. Kick your feet up back at the hotel or rest them poolside. Dinner will be in the nearby Locorotondo, another darling hilltop town in the Valle d'Itria.
There will be some time to do any final packing before driving up the coast to Polignano al Mare, a gorgeous coastal city perched above the Adriatic Sea. Here we will enjoy a farewell lunch with exquisite seafood and toast to a fabulous trip together! Afterward, two stops will be made: the Bari BRI Airport and the train station.
Double Occupancy
$ 5,900 / Person
Single Supplement
$ 1,300
Inclusions
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Accompanying sommelier guide for the entire tour
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Comfortable Transportation + Driver from our meeting point to our farewell for all group activities
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6 Nights accommodations at boutique hotels with Breakfast
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All meals (except one) with sommelier-selected wine at top restaurants in the region
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All wine tastings + guided activities (special events, private tours, guest experts, entrance fees, etc.)
Exclusions
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Flight to Italy
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Travel expenses before and after the tour period
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Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
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Anything not specified as being included (If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!)
Requirements
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You must be 21+ years of age.
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You must be in good physical condition as your trip will involve walking, hiking, and other physical activities.
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You must sign La Dolce Vigna’s travel agreement.
Tour Details
A couple of months before the tour, you’ll receive a complete wine tour package chock full of good stuff: your confirmed itinerary, tips on what to pack, essays, articles + excerpts related to Puglia + Basilicata.
Deposit + Cancellation Policy
A deposit of $1500 per person is required at the time of booking to guarantee your space. Balance of the full amount is due 90 days prior the tour start date. If there are still spots available less than 90 days prior to the tour start date, the full sum will be due upon booking.
All cancellations must be received in writing. If made 90 days or more prior to the tour start date, a refund less the deposit will be made. If made between 89-31 days prior to the start date, you will be issued a credit in the amount of 50% of the total cost already paid, less the deposit and any and all costs/fees that La Dolce Vigna, LLC has already paid third party vendors, such as room reservations, etc., towards future trips or services. No refunds will be made for cancellations made 30 days or less prior to the tour start date, nor for a cancellation made during the tour.
Clients are urged to book travel insurance for their trip as we unfortunately cannot make exceptions for inclement weather or personal emergencies.
La Dolce Vigna reserves the right to cancel a tour. In this unlikely situation, you would receive a complete refund of your tour fees. La Dolce Vigna will not assume any other liability and is not responsible for any personal expenses as a result of a tour cancellation, such as airline tickets or personal hotel reservations.
Meet Your Guide: Leslie Rosa
Meet Your Guide: Leslie Rosa
Sommelier + Owner of La Dolce Vigna
After a decade of working in the art world for eminent institutions and artists in New York and London, I moved to Italy, fell in love with the diversity of Italian wine and became a certified sommelier with the Associazione Italiana Sommelier. As an art-curator-turned-sommelier, I founded my company to offer trips that give an in-depth look at the history and culture of a particular region through the lens of local wine, spirits, and food. Over the years, my portfolio of trips has grown from Italy and California to include other places I love: Mendoza, Argentina and Oaxaca, Mexico and now Somerset, England. When not leading tours, you can find me doing pop-up wine tastings, writing for the Slow Wine Guide, or getting lost someplace beautiful with my watercolor set.
La Dolce Vigna Difference
Our tours are always limited to a maximum of 12 people to assure you an intimate experience.
You will always have a certified sommelier guide to answer all of your wine-related questions on the road.
Our tours are centered around small, eco-conscious, family-run wineries that make truly outstanding wine, and are packed with cultural insights.
Be prepared to eat. A lot. We've picked out amazing spots for you, from the small, loved-by-locals osteria to the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Depending on the season and local events, we will custom organize the best and most insider experience for each group.
Rest assured that your tour price includes all meals (except one), activities, hotels, transportation from the moment we meet until our fond farewell.
For those of you who have been on other group tours, you know what we're talking about. Part of living la dolce vigna is taking the time to truly savor your experiences and surroundings. We've built in time for you to do just that at your own pace and on your own terms. Long live slow travel!
Besides helping local, artisanal economies through visiting small wine and food producers, eating at traditional trattorie and staying at boutique hotels, a donation on behalf of each individual that takes one of our tours will be made to 10,000 Gardens in Africa, a Slow Food initiative aimed at cultivating sustainable and healthy communities throughout Africa.
Any Other Questions?
Looking for a Private Wine Tour of Italy?
Look no further! In addition to our intimate group tours, La Dolce Vigna curates private wine tours—with or without a guide—based on your dates, travel style and interests. We will open the doors to authentic experiences complete with exceptional food and wine, colorful personalities, warm hospitality, not-to-be-missed cultural sites and many, many photo-worthy moments. (Trust us.)
La Dolce Vigna's Adventures Abroad