Sample some of the best food and wine in the north of Italy with these five excellent tours that bring you a unique alla Milanese twist.
(Photo: Viator.com)
When you visit Milan, you might already know some of the region’s classic dishes and treats, such as risotto alla Milanese, ossobuco, costoletta alla Milanese and the rich, fruit-filled cake your aunt buys you for Christmas: panettone. And while Milan is at the forefront of Italy’s beer brewing scene, there are plenty of smaller wine regions in its environs, too, including the Valtellina, Franciacorta and Oltrepo. That means food and wine tours in and around Milan are the perfect way to experience something unique to this part of Lombardy.
Milan Wine and Cheese Tasting with an Italian Sommelier
Head to one of Milan’s central wine bars, located minutes from the Arco della Pace, for a midday or early evening wine tasting session that ideally complements a sightseeing trip to the city or acts as a perfect activity to do before dinner. You will taste at least three Italian wines, learn about the best local varieties and follow the guidance of your personal sommelier to pair each tipple with local cheeses, salami, bread and olives. This sensory experience runs twice a day from Mon to Sat each week. From €75 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Milan Food Walking Tour of Brera
Enjoy six food tastings at different stops along a sightseeing route through the upscale Brera neighbourhood of Milan. Over this popular, three-hour walking tour, your local foodie guide will take you to eateries that are popular with local residents to try classic Milanese dishes, such as meatballs, artisanal beers and the saffron-flavoured risotto typical of Milan. You can also try a Milan-style aperitivo, often enjoyed before dinners in Milan. Tours run on Mon, Fri and Sat. From €80 per person.
Evening Food Tour with Wine Tasting in Milan
For more of a classic food tour of the city, combining tastings with an introduction to the Navigli district’s best eateries and bars, then this three-hour option is for you. Take a guided walk along canals and streets with your local foodie guide, stopping to taste Italian products, such as cheeses and cold cuts, along the way. You will pair these with local craft beers. Another benefit of this tour is the flexibility, accommodating vegetarian and vegan diets, and alcohol-free lifestyles. This tour runs on Fridays only. From €80 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Milan Food and Wine Experience
For a food and wine tour of Milan that places greater emphasis on food, and plenty of it, there is an option that includes a five-course meal with wine pairings and dessert, which comes after a walking tour filled with tastings. This really is a delicious blend of gluttony and exercise, starting by walking the streets of Navigli to find the best places to sample sparkling Franciacorta wine and risotto alla Milanese, before the main meal. This tour runs from Tue to Sat at noon and in the early evening. A minimum booking of two people is required. From €119 per person.
Full-Day Food & Wine Experience in Franciacorta from Milan
If you’d like to sample wines from the Lombardy region, this day trip to Franciacorta, roughly an hour’s drive east of Milan, is the perfect way to go about it. The tour, which also allows two hours for you to visit the medieval streets of Bergamo, involves two wine tastings and a guided winery tour amid the rolling Franciacorta countryside. And just so that you don’t overindulge in Bacchanalian pleasures, there’s a three-course meal provided as well. Wine pairings included. The tour runs daily. From €235 per person.