Italy's best kept secret
Breathtaking coastlines, charming villages, and the region’s famous Primitivo and Negroamaro wines await you!
Date
Sep 13 - 20
Year
2025
Group Size
15 - 17
Tour Escort
Day 1 to Day 8
Join Wine Lovers Travel to Italy’s best kept secret: Puglia! We will be touring around Puglia & Matera September 13-20th, 2025. Puglia, with its stunning coastline and charming villages, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and rich history. The region is known for its picturesque trulli houses in Alberobello, the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, the vibrant landscapes of olive groves and vineyards, and most importantly, their wines! Puglia is renowned for its rich wine heritage, producing some of Italy’s most distinctive and robust wines. The region is particularly famous for its Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes, which thrive in its sunny climate and fertile soils. We can’t wait for you to join us and taste all the wines this region has to offer.
Trip Highlights
-Visit Polignano a Mare for a wild Ape Calessino ride folowed by lunch in a gorgeous cave restaurant.
-See the caves from the perspective of the sea during a 2-hour boat ride along the Puglian coastline.
-Ride a Segway or golf cart through the fairytale town of Alberobello and admire the tullis, whitewashed stone houses.
-Taste the region by visiting wineries famous for Primitivo di Manduria, a DOC red wine with an almost impenetrable color, grown on vines as old as 80 years.
-Get your camera ready for a private guided walking tour of Matera to see the culture and the famous sassi cave houses.
-Admire the Aglianico wine region and its castles in Venosa, all while staying in an ancient cave hotel carved into a mountain.
What is included in the price?
– All hotels, including daily breakfast and taxes
-5 nights at the Ostuni Palace in Ostuni
-2 nights at the Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita in Matera.
– One other meal each day, either lunch or dinner served with local wine, as shown in the daily itinerary.
– All tastings, entry fees, and experiences as shown in the itinerary.
– All ground transportation in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle.
– Professional English-speaking tour manager throughout.
Not included:
– Airport transfers (WLT will arrange both private and group transfers upon arrival and departure based upon flight times).
– International air.
– Travel/Cancellation Insurance (every traveler must either show proof of insurance or waive coverage).
– Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
– Any items of a personal nature.
-Tips/Gratuities for guides, drivers, and tour managers (guidelines will be provided).
Transfer information-IMPORTANT
Unlike many other Wine Lovers Travel trips, this one does not include the price of transfers. That is because people may be arriving at either Bari or Brindisi airports. Both are good and do have international flights. The choice of airport depends on each traveler’s specific routing.
Due to the fact that people will be arriving and departing from two different airport, we want to keep transfer costs to a minimum since they are not included. This means we’d like to provide group transfers to as many travelers as possible since these are less expensive. If you do want a private transfer, we will make those available as well.
When making your flight plans (which Wine Lovers Travel can help you with, by request), please try to arrive in either airport by noon on arrival day. On departure day, please try not to schedule your flights prior to 9am.
Once we obtain everyone’s flight information, which isn’t due until 2 months prior to the start of the trip, we will contact everyone with their transfer options.
Day 1 – Sept. 13, 2025
Arrive in Ostuni, Italy
Welcome to Italy! Arrive in either Bari or Brindisi airport and transfer to Ostuni. Ostuni is known as the “White City”, and it is sure to take your breath away. Once at your hotel, the city center 4-star Ostuni Palace, you can check-in and relax. Welcome aperitivo and dinner with wine will follow as well as an introduction to your Tour Manager and short briefing about the coming week.
(Transfers are an extra cost depending upon which airport and how many people arriving at similar times. Prices will range from 20 EUR to 218 EUR and will be communicated once all travelers have provided their flight information).
Day 2 – Sept. 14, 2025
Ostuni
After breakfast, take a private 2-hour guided walking tour of Ostuni. Stops in this “white city,” so named for all the houses which are plastered white, will include viewpoints of the Itria Valley with its olive groves and historical buildings such as Church of San Francesco d’Assisi and the Ostuni Cathedral. After all that walking, we will be sure to stop for lunch with wine at a local restaurant featuring typical Ostuni specialties. After lunch will be free time to relax and adjust to jet lag. Dinner will be on your own.
Day 3 – Sept. 15, 2025
Polignano a Mare
After breakfast, you’ll leave Ostuni for a 50-minute drive to Polignano a Mare, a picturesque town perched on limestone cliffs over the Adriatic coast. You’ll tour this iconic coastal town in an Ape Calessino, a 3-wheeled “motorcycle vehicle” somewhat similar to a Tuk-Tuk.
After your wild ride, you’ll have some free time to explore before lunch. Lunch will be at Grotta Palazzese, a gorgeous restaurant in a cave overlooking the sea.
After all that starring at the ocean, it is finally time to get on it. You’ll take off on a 2-hour boat trip along the coast.
On the way back to Ostuni, you’ll stop at a local winey to tour the vineyards, the production area, the stone vault and, of course, to taste the wine.
Tonight, we’ll return to Ostuni for dinner and free time on your own.
Day 4 – Sept. 16, 2025
Alberobello – Locorotondo
Depart from your hotel after breakfast to Alberobello, which is a 45-minute drive. This is the much-loved town of trullis, which are whitewashed stone houses with pointed slate roots that look similar to yurts or teepees. You’ll have your choice of touring either on a Segway or a golf cart, a very fun way to see this unique setting. Your private guide will share the history and folklore of the tullis.
Following the tour, you’ll head to a trullo in the countryside, where you’ll participate in a cooking class of Puglian specialties, which is likely to include their famous orecchiette pasta. Lunch will include wine.
After lunch, you’ll continue to the nearby town of Locorotondo, where Fiano, Bianco d’Alessano and Verdeca grapes are grown. This is the home of the Locorotondo DOC. Your time here will include a winery visit and tasting.
After the winery visit, we will return to Ostuni, where dinner is on your own.
Day 5 – Sept. 17, 2025
Manduria- The Primitivo Day
After breakfast, you’ll head to Menduria, a 50-minute ride to the west coast of Puglia. Menduria is famous for its Primitivo wine, not to mention production of figs and tobacco. You will visit one of the best producers of Primitivo di Manduria, a DOC red wine with an almost impenetrable color that is grown on vines as old as 80 years. Your visit will include a tasting.
Next, you’ll head to one of the many masserias for lunch. Masserias, which are found throughout Puglia, are historical farmhouses, now containing lodging and authentic dining. Your lunch will include local Puglian food and wine.
Since you’re in such a wine-rich region, you’ll be visiting another winery showcasing Mandurian Primativo, for a tour and tasting. Afterwards, you’ll return to Ostuni, where dinner will be on your own.
Day 6 – Sept. 18, 2025
Matera
After breakfast, you’ll depart for the magical town of Matera, which is a little less than 2 hours away. On your way, you’ll stop at a local farm for an aperitivo and a taralli, a regional ring-shaped cracker/snack usually eaten by dunking in wine. You may also stop near Matina Franca, famous for Martina Franca DOC wine, for a winery visit and tasting.
Afterwards, you’ll continue on to Matera to drop your luggage at the famous 4-star cave hotel Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita. After marveling at the hotel a bit, you will have some free time for lunch and to relax.
After lunch, meet your local private guide for a 3-hour walking tour of Matera, which is just as unique for its sassi cave houses as Venice is for its canals.
Even though you have another 2 days, tonight you’ll celebrate the trip with a festive Farewell Dinner tonight, so that everyone has the last night to pack and get ready for possible early morning flights. Dinner with wine will be at a local Matera restaurant.
Day 7 – Sept. 19, 2025
Aglianico Wine Region
After breakfast, depart to the Aglianico wine region, which is the north side of Matera. You’ll head to Venosa, the historical city of Orazioi the Poet, and known for its castle. You’ll have a little free time to explore before you head for a brief drive to visit one of the most important Aglianico wine cellars for a tasting.
Afterwards, you’ll have lunch with wine at either a local masseria or agriturismo, another type of local farm which also has lodging and meals. Before everyone packs, you’ll finish the afternoon with a final aperitivo and chance to reminisce on this wonderful time in Puglia.
Day 8 – Sept. 20, 2025
Arrivederci!
Unfortunately, our trip ends today. You will make your way back to the Bari or Brindisi airport or continue on with your travels. Arrivederci, or “until we meet again”, we hope you enjoyed your trip.
(Transfers are an extra cost depending upon which airport and how many people arriving at similar times. Prices will range from 36 EUR to 266 EUR and will be communicated once all travelers have provided their flight information).
