Gourmet Tuscany!

Gourmet Tuscany!

A culinary adventure in the world’s most
renowned wine region of Italy.

June 29 - July 6, 2025

Join fellow Seven Birches Wine Club Members on this quintessential trip to wine country in Tuscany, Italy in June, 2025.  This 8-day, 7-night trip to Tuscany is built for you, the wine and food connoiseur.  IF you’ve ever dreamed of taking a trip to Tuscany, but wanted a little help in planning the trip, then this is it!

On this affordable Italy tour small group discovery package, the town of Montecatini serves as your home base from which to venture out to explore the surrounding landscapes of breathtaking Tuscany and getting to know its culinary and wine traditions. You’ll indulge in picturesque scenery, world-class local wines, traditional cuisine, and cultural discoveries. From the rolling hills of Montalbano to Vinci and beyond, we’ll take you through bountiful vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees. You’ll even visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci to experience the Renaissance master’s life and art. Traveling through some of the most stunning and lush natural landscapes in Italy, you’ll embark to visit idyllic spots, including the gorgeous Chianti Valley and the Etruscan Coast. As you visit quaint wine shops, cafes, historic estates, and museums, you’ll feel immersed in the history and traditions of each destination.

In addition to sampling the local gourmet Tuscan fare, you’ll also be treated to an Italian cooking lesson. You’ll prepare an authentic Italian dish inside a rustic Tuscan farmhouse where you and your travel companions will enjoy your culinary creations—complete with master-chef prizes. You’ll also learn the art of Italian dessert making at your hotel and get to taste some of the celebrated Chianti and Super Tuscan wines right where they are produced. You’ll revel in the beauty of becoming familiar with a single destination of Montecatini while making priceless discoveries of locales that are off the beaten path—perfect for the smart, creative, and budget-minded travel lover.

*taken directly from the COSMOS website*

Only $2039 / person*

8 Days | 7 Nights in Italy

*Prices per person, based on double occupancy and do NOT include airfare.  Travel protection (+ $289pp) is also highly recommended.
Gourmet Tuscany Map
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WHERE are we going?

DAY 1  ARRIVE IN MONTECATINI, ITALY
  • Check into your hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a special welcome dinner.
DAY 2  MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO VINCI
  • This morning, head out into the lush, rolling landscape of the Montalbano hills. Pass terraced grape vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees on your way to the quaint village of Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, learn all about the Renaissance master at the museum dedicated to his life and many areas of interest from painting, sculpting, and inventing, to anatomy, music, and cartography! Round up the morning with the visit of a local bakery. Learn how bread is made and enjoy a light lunch with an opportunity to sample local products such as focaccia bread, sandwiches, wine, cheese, cold cuts, and olive oil.
    Today’s Distance: 25 mi/ 40 km
DAY 3  MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO THE CHIANTI VALLEY
  • Cradled between the provinces of Florence and Siena, the Chianti Valley is the heart of Tuscany, and has been hailed for its exceptional wines since the 13th century. Your journey today takes you to Greve, with time to visit the village and to enjoy lunch at a charming wine shop. Complete the day with the visit of a historic Tuscan estate known for its Chianti wine production.
    Today’s Distance: 96 mi/ 155 km
DAY 4  MONTECATINI
  • Enjoy a leisurely morning in Montecatini. Maybe go for a walk in the Parco delle Terme with its tall shady trees. Most of the afternoon is dedicated to the Italian cooking lesson at a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. Once you arrive at the farm, enjoy a welcome drink, explore the orchard to pick some fresh ingredients, learn about Italy’s most famous delicacies, and then roll up your sleeves for a fun, hands-on cooking experience. This evening, relax with your traveling companions and taste the delectable dinner you prepared—maybe your team will win the master chef prize!
DAY 5  MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO LUCCA
  • Visit Lucca, a stunning showcase of medieval architecture and layer upon layer of rich history and culture. Marvel at the beautiful art and tapestry collections at the baroque Palazzo Mansi National Museum, then take a guided walking tour around the Old Town with its fine, intact Renaissance-era wall, cobblestone streets, and café-lined piazzas. A lively café-crawl snack brunch is included, followed by a main course at a local restaurant. Then, your Local Guide will introduce you to the stunning ornamental gardens and grand arched ceilings of Palazzo Pfanner.
    Today’s Distance: 39 mi/ 62 km
DAY 6  MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO BOLGHERI
  • Travel through the vineyard-dotted countryside and along cypress tree-lined Viale dei Cipressi for your grand entrance into enchanting Bolgheri. With its red-brick castle and atmospheric Old Town, it’s not hard to imagine that Bolgheri jumped right off the pages of a storybook. There’s time here to visit one of the wine cellars and taste Bolgheri’s celebrated Super Tuscan reds. First created in the 1980s, many wine experts believe these now rival French Bordeaux. Later, stop at nearby Castagneto Carducci, known for its splendid panoramic views of the Etruscan Coast. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and the chance to sample the local liqueur.
    Today’s Distance: 155 mi/ 250 km
DAY 7  MONTECATINI
  • This morning is yours to do as you please. You could choose to explore more of the city on your own, to relax and shop for souvenirs, or to join an exciting optional excursion. This afternoon is dedicated to a baking class at your hotel, focusing on the creation of cakes and desserts.
DAY 8  MONTECATINI
  • Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

WHAT does the trip include?

June 29, 2025 – July 6, 2025

Your trip includes all of the following:

  • 7 Nights Lodging at Hotel Settentrionale Esplanade, Montecatini, Italy
  • Local Expert Tour Director, Daniela Spissu
  • 7 Breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 Dinners
  • Daily Excursions into Wine Country
    • Visit the Village of Vinci (birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci)
    • Visit the Chianti Valley and a Tuscan Estate Winery
    • Italian Cooking Lesson in Montecatini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Visit Lucca for stunning medieval architecture and a cafe crawl brunch.
    • Visit the storybook town of Bolgheri for some Super Tuscan Reds
    • Italian Baking Class
    • Plenty of free time to explore on your own.

MORE TRIP DETAILS

WHEN is this trip?

June 29 – July 26, 2025  (Sunday – Sunday)

We HIGHLY recommend extending your trip on either end of this package.  You could visit other parts of Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast) and the list is endless.  You will need to get yourself to Montecatini and the closest airport is Florence, Italy.

HOW do we get there?

Airfare and Transfers to Montecatini are NOT included in this trip.

Not a problem and we can help.  You will need to get yourself to Montecatini, Italy which is 30 minute drive or 1 hour train from the Florence, Italy – Amerigo Vespucci International Airport.

Once you arrive at your hotel check-in, all transportation to the daily activities is provided by COSMOS.

WHO is invited?

Wine Club Members, Friends & Family

As a benefit of the Seven Birches Wine Club, members may invite their friends & family to join us, if space permits.  We are limited in the number of spaces at this amazing group rate, so please don’t hesitate and miss out.  You will be accompanied by Mark & Stephanie, winery owners.

WHY should we choose this club trip?

IF there is one place on earth that wine lovers need to visit, it’s Tuscany!

“Because we should explore the world…and it’s a really good deal!” ~ Seven Birches Winery Owner, Mark LaClair

This trip is practically designed for our wine club.  Visiting Tuscany is a dream for most wine lovers, and this trip allows us to experience it together with a flexible planned trip.  COSMOS is a tour provider that specializes in providing high-value, top-of-the-line experiences in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.  Because we get a local guide with this trip, it gets us to places that would be challenging on our own.  The daily excursions a geared to those that like a little activity with their touring and it has a focus on food and wine.  Can we really beat that?  And, you can’t beat this price on your own.

We are interested!

Now what?

I'm Interested. Contact me with more information.

Selected Value: 0

I'm interested. Where can I find more information?

You are welcome to look at the official COSMOS website for more specific information.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

If the answers aren't right here, please contact us. We're here to help.

How do I reserve my spot on this trip?

When you are ready to reserve your spot on this trip, simply contact us directly and we will start the process.  We will communicate with you individually to get all the details just right.  Then, we will create an invoice for you with all of your details and the costs for the trip.   Your invoice will request a non-refundable deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The very first thing required is your NON-REFUNDABLE, $250 per person deposit.  The last day that you are able to commit to the trip, by way of making your deposit, is January 30, 2025.  However, please do not wait that long to decide and make your deposit.  This trip is limited and first come, first served.

Once your deposit is made, we will be in touch with you for more information and next steps.

What is the payment plan for this trip?

Please make note of the following important dates regarding your booking and the payment plan:

  • $250 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT due no later than January 30, 2025
  • Trip Balance due no later than March 30, 2025

Installment plans will be discussed with you once you have made your deposit and secured your reservations.  You may wish to make frequent (monthly) payments in smaller increments between now and the end of February.  We can assist you in setting that up.  Contact us if you would like to do this now.

How do we get to/from the airport on arrival and departure days?

More information coming soon!

What is the refund policy for this trip?

Your initial deposit of $250 is NON-REFUNDABLE.  You will not be able to get your money back, if you need to cancel.  We highly recommend purchasing the travel protection option (or other travel insurance) to be on the safe side.

IF you need to cancel, PRIOR to March 28, 2025, you will receive a refund minus the non-refundable deposit of $250.

AFTER March 29, 2025, cancellations will not be refunded and you will forfeit your trip.  Another good reason to purchase the travel protection option.

What does the travel protection entail and include?

Travel Protection:

  • Insurance provider: Aon Affinity
  • Able to add any time prior to final payment
  • Must purchase within two weeks of booking tour to cover pre-existing conditions
  • Nonrefundable
  • Detailed summary of coverage: affinitytravelcert.com/docs/GFB01

*Travel Protection is available for an additional $289 pp.  (Must be purchased at the same time of initial deposit, and is non- refundable, unless the tour is cancelled by the Operator.)

This plan offers comprehensive protection for your vacation. In addition to excellent trip coverage and cancellation protection, the plan includes a Cancel for Any Reason Waiver Benefit that allows for cancellations up to 24 hours prior to departure (or prior business day, whichever is farther out) for any reason. In the event cancellation is for a non-covered reason under Travel Protection, the cancellation penalty retained by Globus, minus the Travel Protection payment, will be reimbursed under the Cancel for Any Reason Waiver Benefit in the form of Travel Certificates valid for travel within two years from the original cancelled vacation start date. This Cancel for Any Reason Waiver Benefit does not cover Instant Purchase Air or independently purchased air.

*Travel Protection rate is based on the land cost of the tour. Rate may vary with additional land services i.e. single supplements.

What food and beverages are included on this trip?

MEALS:

Breakfast  7
Lunch  4
Dinner  3

Much of the content for this webpage, was purposefully curated from the COSMOS website for marketing and accuracy purposes.  Photos and text content is credited to COSMOS.  Listed pricing is that of Seven Birches Wine Club members only.