Wine Tasting - Wine Tours in Italy

“Le Settimane dei Vini” — Weeks of Wines — offers a number of wine themed events held in late May and in June — from May 23 through June 19 –, in the city of Siena, Tuscany.

The historic city of Siena, is situated in one of the major wine production zones in Italy, boasting the likes of “Brunello di Montalcino”, “Nobile di Montepuciano”, just to name a few.

On May 23, the first of a number of wine sampling sessions named “Happy wine con i vini del Vigneto Italia“, is scheduled in Siena at Bastione S. Francesco (h. 6-8 PM). It will be offering a tasting of selected wines paired with chocolate delicacies.

The production zone of Prosecco, in Veneto, lovely hills just a few miles north of Venice, offers wine festivals all the week-ends of spring.
The festivals, dedicated to Prosecco DOC wine, feature a number of wine shows and Prosecco-themed events; they are known as “Primavera del Prosecco DOC” — Spring of Prosecco DOC — festivals.

May 24, is the last day for “Vini and Grappe Città di Vittorio Veneto”, wine show held in the town of Vittorio Veneto.
With the traditional taverns open for the event, visitors have a chance of tasting local wines specialties there. The festival also offers visits to wine museums located in Vittorio Veneto and surroundings.

Conegliano, the “artistic town of wine”, hosts the “Prosecco of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene Show“, a wine show held from May 15th to 24th, 2009 (only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). The town of Conegliano is well-known for its historic buildings and frescos beauty.

With its wine events, Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto in late May, are destinations to consider for a day trip from Venice filled with and wine tasting, sightseeing, art and history,.

More towns located in the Prosecco Hills area hosting Prosecco festivals in May and June include: Corbanese (May 23 to June 7), S. Pietro di Feletto (May 30 to June 14), Serravalle (May 12 to June 21). (See complete “Primavera Prosecco” program).

A ten day Chianti wine fair-festival is held late in late May in Montespertoli, Tuscan town in the heart of Chianti area.

The fair, featuring selected Chianti wineries, is also a festival with wine tastings, food stands and music. The 2008 edition is taking place from May 24 through June 2.

Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Montespertoli are the most known wines produced in the zone including the hills of Montespertoli. The town also boasts an important wine museum.
(View Montespertoli map).

Those who are visiting the major art cities in Italy in the early days of March, can enjoy important wine events.

In Rome, the Roma Wine Festival (Feb. 29 - Mar. 2) is an occasion to know Italy’s wines. Visitors to Roma Wine Festival will be able to taste through the wines of many of Italy’s finest estates, including the wines selected in the “Best 100” of 2008.
The fair features a section named The Grand Tour of Italy’s Wines which offers you the chance to sample the wines and get to know the many products of specific Italian regions, wine areas and cities.
Where: Rome; Venue: Spazio Etolie, Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina. Details at http://www.romawinefestival.it .

In Venice, at “Gusto in Scena” (March 3 - 5), a 3-day wine tasting and conferencing event, selected wines are divided into four grape-growing areas, mountain, hill, plain, and nearby the sea and paired to regional recipes.
The event will be held at the Molino Stucky Hilton hotel, on the Giudecca island. The venue is 20 minutes ride with Vaporetto from Venice train station Santa Lucia. Molino Stucky Hilton hotel offers free waterbus from/to Piazza San Marco from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM.
Where: Venice; Venue: Molino Stucky Hilton (Giudecca island). Event details at http://www.gustoinscena.it .