Sardinia
Wine + Culture tour
Next Tours in Sardinia
Welcome to Sardinia
Traveling in Sardinia, the Mediterranean’s second largest island, is like a journey through centuries of its past conquerers, which include Spain, Northern Africa and other parts of Italy— all of whom left their cultural mark.
Sardinia has managed to retain its own vibrant and rich traditions as well, in part, thanks to its rugged mountainous interior that is still not easily traversed. On La Dolce Vigna’s 8 Night – 7 Day Tour of Sardinia, we will delve into the island’s ancient history, varied landscapes, intricate art and music, and, of course, Sardinian food and wine.
With its unique terroirs and indigenous grape varieties from Cannonau to Vermentino di Gallura, there is a lot to explore! Whether exploring Sardinia’s wine regions, savoring its culinary delights, or immersing oneself in its rich history andculture, Sardinia offers an unforgettable experience.
Sardinia 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.
Get to know the incredible wines of Sardinia through visits to top wineries
Guided tour of a Nuraghe archaeological site (UNESCO)
Boat ride along Sardinia’s northern coast
Learn more about Sardinia’s rich cultural traditions through two of its most important cultural museums
Cooking class of Sardinian specialties
Visit to a cheese producer of Pecorino Sardo
Enjoy unforgettable meals thanks to Sardinia’s unique culinary tradition
Unesco World Heritage Sites in Veneto
(Starred Sites are on the Veneto wine tour)
Cuisine of Sardinia
Traditional Sardinian food reflects the island’s history and culture, with influences from Italy, Spain, and North Africa.
One of the most iconic dishes is culurgiones, handmade pasta filled with potato, pecorino cheese, and mint, served with a tomato and basil sauce. Sardinia is also famous for its succulent roasted suckling pig, a delicacy often enjoyed during festive occasions. Seafood lovers will delight in dishes like bottarga (salted, cured fish roe) and, fregola ai frutti di mare (a type of pasta served with mixed seafood).
For dessert, Sardinia offers delights such as seadas, a fried pastry filled with pecorino cheese and drizzled with honey, and pardulas, sweet ricotta-filled pastries flavored with saffron and orange zest.
Your Extraordinary Accommodations in Sardinia
Our accommodations in Sardinia will take you from the island’s south to north. We stay at three fabulous boutique hotels: one in Cagliari’s city center, one in the central part of the island and finally a lovely country estate in the north.
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Sardinia Tour Details
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Make your way to our hotel and check in. We'll meet in the lobby of our hotel in the afternoon for a guided walking tour of Sardinia’s capital city, which a rich history of Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman and Aragonese influences. Dinner will follow in town.
Today we dedicate to Sardinia’s greatest hits: its most famous red wine, Cannonau, nuraghe (mysterious and ancient megalithic structures found scattered throughout the island) and pecorino cheese. Our first stop will be to one of the most respected wineries in Sardinia to taste through their line up of wines made mostly from native grape varieties. The tasting will be paired with tapas. We’ll then drive to the most extensive archaeological complex of nuraghe where we will be guided through the site. Then, we’ll drive to an artisanal producer of pecorino cheese before heading back to Cagliari to rest at the hotel. Dinner will be in town at a local favorite for seafood.
This morning we drive west to the coast where the island’s best Carginano is made. We’ll visit a small winery and learn more about why the terroir is ideal for the grape variety. Lunch will be at a fantastic osteria with a view. Next up will be a visit to an important part of Sardinia’s history: the historic salt flats of Santa Gilla basin where “white gold” was produced for decades. There will be time to rest before our final dinner in Cagliari.
Today we move into the mythical center of the island, where much of the island’s traditions were protected over the centuries. The island’s center is also where the most prestigious Cannonau is made. Our first stop will be small winery. We’ll learn more about the wine traditions in her town and taste her wines. Lunch will follow in Mamoaida and one of my favorite wine producers will join us. We’ll taste his wines alongside our beautifully prepared dishes. We’ll then walk over to the town’s museum dedicated to the masks of the Mediterranean. Next, we’ll check into our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner will be at one of their restaurants.
The nearby town of Nuoro has one of my favorite museums in all of Italy: the ethnographic museum of Sardinia. We' will have a guided tour of this incredible collection. Lunch will be a short downhill walk to a restaurant making some of the culinary art we just learned about. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Dinner will be a countryside affair with a surprise!
You might be thinking Sardinia makes only red wine, but today we are dedicating to its prized white wine: Vermentino di Gallura. We’ll make the two hour drive to our first winery where we will tour their vineyards followed by a wine-paired lunch. Then, we will drive to one more Vermentino winery before checking into our beautiful boutique hotel tucked into an idyllic natural setting. Unpack and enjoy an aperitivo by the pool. Dinner will be at the hotel’s restaurant.
Following breakfast, we will begin our a cooking class at the hotel of a couple of traditional dishes. After lunch, we’ll drive to the port to meet the captain for our catamaran cruise of the stunning north coast. We’ll have an onboard aperitivo and you are welcome to jump into the emerald waters. Back at the hotel, shower off and get ready for our farewell dinner at the hotel.
For those who want to stay on to enjoy the Emerald Coast in Sardinia’s northeast, you can rent your car or organize transport to your resort of choice. For the rest, you can catch your onward flight from the Olbia airport.
Make your way to our hotel and check in. We'll meet in the lobby of our hotel in the afternoon for a guided walking tour of Sardinia’s capital city, which a rich history of Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman and Aragonese influences. Dinner will follow in town.
Today we dedicate to Sardinia’s greatest hits: its most famous red wine, Cannonau, nuraghe (mysterious and ancient megalithic structures found scattered throughout the island) and pecorino cheese. Our first stop will be to one of the most respected wineries in Sardinia to taste through their line up of wines made mostly from native grape varieties. The tasting will be paired with tapas. We’ll then drive to the most extensive archaeological complex of nuraghe where we will be guided through the site. Then, we’ll drive to an artisanal producer of pecorino cheese before heading back to Cagliari to rest at the hotel. Dinner will be in town at a local favorite for seafood.
This morning we drive west to the coast where the island’s best Carginano is made. We’ll visit a small winery and learn more about why the terroir is ideal for the grape variety. Lunch will be at a fantastic osteria with a view. Next up will be a visit to an important part of Sardinia’s history: the historic salt flats of Santa Gilla basin where “white gold” was produced for decades. There will be time to rest before our final dinner in Cagliari.
Today we move into the mythical center of the island, where much of the island’s traditions were protected over the centuries. The island’s center is also where the most prestigious Cannonau is made. Our first stop will be small winery. We’ll learn more about the wine traditions in her town and taste her wines. Lunch will follow in Mamoaida and one of my favorite wine producers will join us. We’ll taste his wines alongside our beautifully prepared dishes. We’ll then walk over to the town’s museum dedicated to the masks of the Mediterranean. Next, we’ll check into our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner will be at one of their restaurants.
The nearby town of Nuoro has one of my favorite museums in all of Italy: the ethnographic museum of Sardinia. We' will have a guided tour of this incredible collection. Lunch will be a short downhill walk to a restaurant making some of the culinary art we just learned about. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Dinner will be a countryside affair with a surprise!
You might be thinking Sardinia makes only red wine, but today we are dedicating to its prized white wine: Vermentino di Gallura. We’ll make the two hour drive to our first winery where we will tour their vineyards followed by a wine-paired lunch. Then, we will drive to one more Vermentino winery before checking into our beautiful boutique hotel tucked into an idyllic natural setting. Unpack and enjoy an aperitivo by the pool. Dinner will be at the hotel’s restaurant.
Following breakfast, we will begin our a cooking class at the hotel of a couple of traditional dishes. After lunch, we’ll drive to the port to meet the captain for our catamaran cruise of the stunning north coast. We’ll have an onboard aperitivo and you are welcome to jump into the emerald waters. Back at the hotel, shower off and get ready for our farewell dinner at the hotel.
For those who want to stay on to enjoy the Emerald Coast in Sardinia’s northeast, you can rent your car or organize transport to your resort of choice. For the rest, you can catch your onward flight from the Olbia airport.
Double Occupancy
$ 6,200 / 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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7 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.
Wine Tour Details
A couple of months before the wine tour, you’ll receive a confirmed itinerary for the tour. Throughout the year, you will also receive helpful info such as tips on what to pack, a reading list, and articles related to Sardinia.
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. We urge all clients 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.
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
