About this tour
Explore three centuries of food and wine heritage across Emilia-Romagna's medieval landscape. Start at Chiaravalle della Colomba Abbey, built in 1135, then wander through Castell'Arquato's cobbled streets overlooking vineyards and woodlands. Visit a family-run organic winery on Val d'Arda's fossil-rich slopes—the same terrain Leonardo documented—for five wines paired with local cured meats, cheeses and bread. Finish in the hamlet of Vigoleno sampling Vin Santo, Italy's tiniest DOC wine, made using century-old methods.
Highlights
- Medieval Abbey with functioning monastic community and cloister
- Hilltop village views across vineyards, woods and countryside
- Five organic and biodynamic wines with artisanal food pairings
- Coppa piacentina, pancetta and salame from regional producers
- Vin Santo tasting in Vigoleno using ancestral production techniques
- Fossil-bearing soils documented by Leonardo da Vinci
What to expect
You'll spend roughly two hours walking between medieval sites and vineyard slopes—expect comfortable paths but bring proper shoes. The winery visit includes a cellar tour before the tasting lineup: five wines matched with house-cured meats, local cheeses, honey, homemade bread and almond crumble. The final stop in Vigoleno offers a guided tasting of Vin Santo, a pale dessert wine produced in tiny quantities using methods passed down orally through generations. Throughout, a local guide narrates the landscape's history and production philosophy. Plan for moderate physical activity across the full day.
Good to know
Travel time between sites is included in the 7-hour duration. Wear comfortable, flat shoes for uneven terrain. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available with advance notice. Minimum age 18 for wine tastings. The Abbey prohibits animals inside; service animals excepted. Meet near Fidenza highway exit at 8:30 am if not staying overnight in Parma.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.