Custom Piedmont Food and Wine Tours
Ready to start planning your trip to Barolo wine country (and beyond!) Below find information on my service offer, then fill out the Travel Request Form to start planning!
- Daily Barbaresco and Barolo wine tours
- Custom wine travel programs
- Speciality events / destination weddings
- Win personal wine shopper
- Travel planning support around Italy.
- Travel consult calls – offering only 3 a week; inquire to schedule.
Daily Barolo Wine Tours includes:
- 2 winery visits (maximum of 3) in southwestern Piedmont wine region. Includes: Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, and the Monferrato. I recommend two, no more than three wineries in a day for time to relax and enjoy each visit.
- Additional tasting opportunities in the villages during the day.
- 2-course traditional lunch with local wine.
- For multiple days, I work in additional areas, educational opportunities, food experiences, and more.
- Inquire for our premium experiences and activities; developed exclusively with producers and partners.
Piedmont Food Experiences:
Add a food experience to your daily Barolo wine tour or let me create a custom culinary program for you. Activities include:
- Cooking classes.
- Specialty tasting menus.
- Artisan food producer visits (cheese, pasta, meats, chocolate, etc).
- Truffle hunt / truffle experiences featuring Alba white truffles and spring / summer black truffles..
- Winemaker lunch or dinner with specialty pairings.
- Wine pairing education.
Travel Planning Services:
Travel planning in Piedmont, Northern Italy, and beyond. I also help clients with visits to Verona / Valpolicella / Veneto, Liguria, Franciacorta, Sicily, Umbria, and Tuscany. My travel support services include:
- Transfer services
- Dining
- Hotel recommendations and packages
- Driver or rental car / car hire services
- Wine tasting appointments
- Custom activities and experiences.
- Special events and destination weddings.
- Wine shipping and transportation support
Book Your Piedmont Travel Program and Barolo Wine Tour Today!
Girl’s Gotta Drink, Quintanilla Valerie Kay, P.I.: 3823140045
Piedmont Food and Wine Tours – Meet your host!
Ciao, I’m Valerie Quintanilla!
I fell in love with Piedmont on a wine holiday in 2011. I moved in 2013 and the rest is history! My marketing and event planning background helped my site and business take on a life of its own developing custom Barolo wine country experiences, unique travel programs, and more.
I love working with travelers looking for a deep dive into area culture and wine – in Barolo and beyond. Let me develop the perfect Barolo wine tour program for you – long short, big small, for your needs here, and in other parts of Italy. My guides and partners are always well-vetted and top quality in terms of knowledge, personality, and of course fun!
Piedmont Travel Resources:
- Where to Stay in Barolo Wine Country
- How to Get to Alba: Planes, Trains, Automobiles
- When is the best time to visit Piedmont? Let’s review
- Getting Around Barolo and Barbaresco
- Barolo Wine Tour Planning – Things to know before you go!
- How to do a Barolo Day Trip from Turin
- Alba White Truffle: Frequently Asked Questions
- Italy wine map
Hi Val,
I was researching Piedmont wineries and I came across your blog! My fiancé and I love to plan and direct our own wine excursions, but I was wondering if there were any small, back lane wineries that are truly special but harder to find than the larger, more established ones (Gaja, Azelia, etc.).
If there are any posts or other resources that I missed please let me know!!
Thanks,
Greg
Thanks for the note, Greg. There are many wonderful small wineries. Those are the places we prefer to take clients. I just wrote an article for Winerist.com on 10 Piedmont wineries to experience. Check it out. There are two parts with a list of 10 stops around the region, not limited to just the Langhe. I specially selected wineries that feature indigenous grapes as well as varied winemaking styles. Let me know what you think! Piedmont Wine Guide: 10 wineries to experience.
Val’s wine tour is simply fantastic. I reached out to Val to plan my trip to Piemonte after discovering her blog in July. In addition to planning the most wonderful day for us, she went above and beyond answering my (many!) questions prior to the trip. She advised on hotels, transportation, restaurants, and so much more. A week before we were scheduled to arrive, we found out that the specialty food market we were going to visit for lunch was closed on the date of our tour. Val knew I was quite the gastronome, and arranged the most spectacular, unique experience for us: a 3 course, homemade pasta lunch by a revered local pasta maker in his own home. The day was about 105 degrees but Val and everyone we were introduced to were all smiles.
Val is very knowledgable about wine, and her enthusiasm for the subject is contagious. We were pleased, however, that she was eager for us to experience the wine region firsthand through local producers. She carefully picked each vineyard so we could experience the full spectrum of wine in the area. First, we went to a local producer who took a very traditional approach to viticulture, and next, we went to a forward-thinking producer who took a more marketing-based approach. I really appreciated the contrast, and how Val made sure to pick producers who communicated in English well—that was important!
I truly felt that I got to understand the Piemonte region and culture in a way I wouldn’t never been able to experience had it not been for Val’s tour. It was hands down the best part of my 10 day trip. Val is thoughtful in her planning, and a complete delight to be around. I cannot say enough positive things about her and Evan and recommend this tour to anyone looking to get a true taste of the Piemonte region.
Thank you so much, Rachel! It was so much fun planning your time with you and the day was so fun. If you decide to head back to Italy (our area or not) for your honeymoon, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We would love to give you some ideas on to dos, eats, etc.
Take care! Val and Evan
Evan hosted us for a day of wine tasting and wine education in mid January, so we were expecting snow. As it turned out, Evan and Val could even control the weather as we were able to wander through the vines almost in t-shirts! The day was informative, educational and very convivial. The small wine makers we met were exceptionally attentive and we tasted a dozen wines from white through Champagne method sparkling to Barolo. We will return and will definitely reach out to Evan and Val again. Thanks for a great day!
Thank you so much, Craig! We have been pretty lucky with the sunny days. Now, if we can just get a little snow to help out the 2016 vintage.
We are so glad you both enjoyed the day out and do look forward to showing you around on your next trip out! Ciao ciao!
We really enjoyed Evan touring us around for an afternoon. His knowledge of the history, geography and agricultural production (including wine) in the area made him an excellent tour guide. His learned perspective and his refined palette added to our understanding and enjoyment. He took us to a few wineries around Barolo and Alba and it was apparent that the proprietors liked and welcomed him. We hope to join him on another tour when we have more time to spend.
Thank you so much for the kind word, John! We are so pleased you enjoyed the afternoon with Evan and look forward to spending time with you here again!
A presto!
We really enjoyed the day tour with Evan. We started in Barbaresco area and a visit to Ca’ del Baio with wine tasting which was really great. We then went up to the tower of Barbaresco village.
Next was lunch at an awesome place with the best wine I’ve had in a long time (actually spend rest of the trip looking for it-with success) and stunning views.
Next was a visit to Palladino winery in Barolo area with wine tasting and we also had time for a visit in cantina in Barolo town.
We learned a lot about wines and living in Italy as an expat.
Hoping to see you again soon.
Ciao, Jonas!
Thanks so much for the note! We are so glad you enjoyed the day and learned a lot. Evan is a walking vino encyclopedia!
We hope to see you here again soon! Val
Karin and I had an amazing Monday guided by Evan. We had a very nice and interesting cooking class in Novello. We made gnocchi, several types of pasta, we fried faraona and made pannacotta. After a short walk we were served the food we just made together with local wine Everything tasted fantastic. In the afternoon we visited a local cheese farmer, Silvio, that makes cheese the traditional way. Inspiring, fascinating and again well tasting. Evan knows Piemonte, Italy and wine making very well and is also a great guide and a pleasant person.
We truly recommend your wine and food tours!
Karin and Mikael
Grazie mille, Mikael & Karin!
Evan said the day was a lot of fun! We are so pleased you enjoyed it. We do hope you make it back to the region!
A presto! Val & Evan
Hi. My husband and I are staying at Villa dAmelia in Benevello June 2-6 and we would like to set up wine tours and maybe a cooking class for Sunday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 5. Would you be able to help us?
We look forward to hearing from you.
Dawn Longfield
Ciao, Dawn! Thank you for the message! Yes, we can certainly help you! I have sent a message to you directly. Look forward to talking more!! Val
Hello,
I’m looking for a day winery tour in Barolo area October 5-6. Possibly would spend a day near there if I could.(I’ll be travelling from Florence). Would you be able to help me set up a tour?
Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing for you.
Amy
Hi Amy! We’ll be in touch today!
Val
We’re looking for a wine tour for 2 at the end of May 2018….
Do you have any available ? Cost?
Ciao, Karen! Thanks for the message! We’d love to show you the area. I sent a message. Please let me know if you didn’t get it!
Val
Hi Evan,
Thank you very much for your wondeful wine tour in Barbaresco and Barolo. My wife and I had a very good time and great experience during the tour. The winery is very generous to give us both eductional and tasting sesions. I will definitely recommend your tour for my friends.
Thank you for the message, Chatchai!! Evan said he had a great time yesterday. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!
Val
Hello! I stumbled upon your page and the information is wonderful! I have been researching a trip to the Piemonte region for a while now (big fan of Nebbiolo), but keep running into an obtacle because I will be traveling alone and all of the tours I see are set up for a minimum of 2 people or small groups, which I assume would be families and/or people who already know each other and want private tours. Are you familiar with options for solos to join with other solos and/or groups that are mixed? I’ve been advised about booking tours for me alone, but think it would be more fun with others…I have met some great friends in the past joining other group tours all over the world.
Many thanks in advance!
Lisa
Hi Lisa –
Thanks for reading and reaching out! We do solos during low season and will add solo travelers to groups if everyone is happy with it. If you submit a tour request with your dates,
I can get back to you with information on our programs and rates!
Ciao ciao! Val
Val, my daughter (19yrs) is travelling solo and is having challenges finding what she’s looking for – a cultural experience of the areas visited instead of the tourist experience. Any advice you can share regarding how to get to a local experience vs the usual tourist sites etc? She’s currently in Naples and has 4 weeks to get to Frankfurt (I wish I had this problem!!) …currently at a loss as to what to do next.
Ciao, Kim!
Thanks for reading and reaching out!!
I am a big fan of connecting with local expats. I’d suggest she look for expat blogs on the areas she will be visiting. Generally, the sites themselves will have a wealth of insider information and they can likely direct her to guides and activities that are more under the radar or geared to a more authentic experience. A great site that has a lot of goodies all over Italy is http://www.GirlInFlorence.com . Not sure if she’s done Naples, but you’ll find a ton of great stuff for other parts of Italy. And, when I spent time with her and a few other expats in Florence a few years back, I felt like I got to experience the real Florence, not the touristy side. If she’ll be in Florence, tell her to check out my Florence / Tuscany section. I’ve got some tips from my time there with links to other sites that generally cover other parts of Italy, like Georgette of Girl in Florence. I hope that helps!! I hope she has a blast on her adventure! If she makes it my direction, I’d love to try to meet! Val
Big hugs and keep it beautiful!
thank you!
Hi Val, we are putting together a wine tour for a California winery and 12 of their wine club members. They really want to spend a week in Piedmont with cooking classes, wine tastings, winemaker dinners etc. They want to do non-touristy places and experiences. Do you handle that or know someone who does? They have visited Piedmont before hence the off-the-beaten path wish.
Hi Gail!
We can definitely help with this and would love to do it!
I’ll email you privately! Val
Hi Val,
I’m going to spend 4 to 5 days in Piemond with my partner, brother and sister in law. Just out of curiosity, what would be the cost to have a one day or two days tasting our including some vineyards and food tasting?
Thanks in advance!
Ciao, Mathilde! If you can submit a tour request through our tour page, https://girlsgottadrink.com/piedmont-food-and-wine-tours/, I can check availability and get you information about our tour programs.
Thanks! Val
Thank you both so much for such a fabulous experience. Scott and I will never forget our time in Piedmont: at the wineries, the artisanal cheese and pasta producers, the truffle hunt, and the cooking class. So much fun!
Thank you so much, Margaret!! Please come back!
Valerie,
Thank you again for all your help in arranging such a fabulous vacation. We loved all the tours and the cooking class. Everyone you put us in contact with were so friendly and gracious. We hope that we represented your business properly in all our interactions. It may be a couple years, but we’re looking forward to returning to Italy and working with you again.
PS.. The wines we sent home have all been incredible reminders of the fun that we had.
Thank you so much, Tom!!! Everyone on my team and the producers and service providers loved you all! Please come back!!
We had the most amazing day with Evan this fall (2019). I was in Torino for a family wedding and wanted to do a day trip to Barolo when I found Valerie’s blog. We were a group of 4 who like to drink wine but don’t really know much about it and wanted to have a fun, educational experience. Evan was fun, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable about the entire region! We had a tasting in Barberesco, lunch at a cheese makers, a stop for gelato and sine quick shopping in Alba, and finally a tasting in Barolo. A perfect and memorable day!!! I highly recommend and would definitely set something up with them again the next time I’m in the region. And the pricing was more reasonable than other tours I researched.
Thank you, Nina! Please come back again!!