Experts in Wine and Wellness Travel
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Curated Group Experiences

Prepared with love & expertise for your enjoyment

Looking for a turnkey travel solution in northern Italy or France that’s high on experience and low on stress? Sensi e Diletti’s group and individual travel packages are created by professionals in the fields of travel, gastronomy, wine, and wellness for full, sensory immersion in the most luxurious sense. These itineraries are designed to be enjoyed as a guided, multi-day experience or as single-day excursions. We are both flexible and happy to apply modifications to accommodate your needs. Click below for a complimentary consultation.

Valpolicella Immersion

Through this set of experiences we want to introduce you to the territory that we now call home: Verona, the Valpolicella wine region, and Lake Garda. It is a place of stunning natural beauty with a thriving artistic and cultural scene. Wine has been produced in the area for over two thousands years and the local cuisine had developed with it, hand in hand. The landscape is made of a band of gentle hills, squeezed between the imposing Alpine chain to the north and the alluvial plain of the Po River to the south. The city of Verona is nothing less than an open-air museum, with Roman time buildings and artifacts blending in with Medieval and Renaissance architecture. Lake Garda is the largest body of water in Italy and its unique physical features contribute to a Mediterranean climate which allows the culture of grapevines, olive trees, and lemon trees. Low rolling hills hug the southern shores of the lake; moving north, vertical cliffs plunge in the crystalline water making it a world-renowned destination for watersports. This corner of northern Italy has everything to provide you with an unforgettable sensorial experience.

  • Upon landing at Verona Airport you'll be met by a driver who will whisk you away to Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais (*or similar). There, you will be met with a bubbly beverage at check-in and given a chance to settle into your room, spend a leisurely afternoon by the pool or wandering around the elegant park.

    To ready your palate for a sensational start, tonight we'll have dinner at Villa Cordevigo's Michelin-starred, gastronomic gem, offering you a journey of the senses through the cuisine of chef Marco Marras, unfailingly guided by the seasons, territory and the excellence of the raw materials he uses in his kitchen.

  • We think there is no better way to understand this territory than from above. To do so, you’ll be heading to one of the highest points in the denomination, located at 500 meters above sea level, to our favorite micro-winery. There, after walking the vineyards and visiting the cellar, you’ll have the opportunity to taste their wines, masterfully paired with a delightful four-course menu, prepared by the skillful hands of our trusted private chef.

    On the descent into the city of Verona you’ll see and endless sea of vines, olive groves, and cherry trees. Once arrived in the historic center, we will be sharing an aperitivo in our favorite piazza.

    After that we will head to one of the oldest wine bars in the world for a deep dive into their locally sourced cuisine and their unmatched wine cellar.

     

  • This morning we’ll head to an historic trattoria, tucked into the side of a hill in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica wine region. Here our dear friend, Chef Davide, will show you how to make and roll the perfect sheet of pasta from mere eggs and flour. Davide and his family have been rolling multiple sheets of pasta by hand (“elbow grease is the way,” he likes to say) every single day since the early 1900’s. At the conclusion of your cooking course, you'll sit down, relax and taste their traditional menu, paired with wines of the territory. Stefano will be making a presentation on the region and its ancient enological heritage. After that, you’ll have the chance to roam the cobblestones of Verona on your own to indulge in some shopping, bar hopping, or getalo eating. We will meet again around time to taste the refine cuisine of one of our favorite place in town where tradition and creativity combine to craft an excellent seasonal menu.

  • After two busy days what’s better than indulge in a luxurious spa surrounded by Alpine views?

    Close your eyes and imagine views over impetuous creeks, placid lakes, green meadows, gothic churches, and rugged mountain peaks. Now picture a world-class spa & resort rising in the middle of this scenery. This might be one of the few cases where reality eclipses imagination, as the beauty of this place is almost indescribable.

    The day is yours to experience the restorative effects of the saunas, pools ,and relaxation rooms that blend harmoniously with the nature that enwreathes them.

    You'll finish this restful day with dinner at a location off the beaten path, and down a narrow road flanked by precipitous vineyards that opens up to a stellar house of gastronomy, with its well-earned Michelin star.

  • Few places in the southeastern corner of Italy’s largest lake are more picturesque than Punta San Vigilio. This small promontory that stretches into the limpid, blue waters of Lake Garda, is surrounded by vertical cliffs, olive groves, and luxuriant woods of cypresses. We can’t think of a better place to relax and absorb the soothing calm and rugged beauty of the lake before heading to one of our favorite restaurants in the area for lunch.

    Perched on a hillside, overlooking the small harbor town of Garda, this “locanda” offers locally sourced ingredients, seasonally inspired menus, and impeccable service. All of these qualities, along with its stunning views, make for a very indulgent meal.

    After lunch you will go to visit our dear friend, Carlo, whom we’ve nicknamed “the vine whisperer.” Carlo and his family have been making the best wines in the denomination for over 40 years. His wines will be accompanied by cold cuts and cheeses, pickled vegetables, homemade bread, and Carlo’s captivating and thought-provoking conversation on winemaking and philosophy.

    In the evening we will head back into Verona for some free time and one memorable dinner at a special place, one that has been a Verona institution since 1921.

  • Parting is such sweet sorrow." After breakfast, you may choose to check out or feel free to stay the day and enjoy all that Villa Cordevigo has to offer, such as their spa and picturesque grounds.

    Whatever you choose, you will be driven back to Verona Airport or Porta Nuova Train Station for your departure. Or, if you've chosen an "Additional Adventure" with Sensi e Diletti, we will make sure to set you off in the right direction for your next destination.

    Either way, we sincerely hope that our paths will cross again.

 

Christmas Markets in northern italy

Get ready for the most magical Christmas atmosphere imaginable.  Town squares draped with decorations, trees heavy with ornaments, twinkling lights, and snow covered peaks will make you think you are living in one of Grimm’s fairy tales. The scent of roasted chestnuts, nutmeg, and cinnamon fills the narrow cobblestone streets. Cozy, open huts allow you to sit for a bit with a cup of hot chocolate or mulled, spiced wine to absorb the scene. Unique artisanal gifts, like the traditional handmade woodcarvings, will provide you with the most perfect presents for friends, and loved ones.  These markets transcend imagination and religion and have miraculously managed to escape globalization.  Only in Europe can you experience the enchantment and authenticity of this 600-year-old holiday tradition.  

  • Upon landing at Verona Airport you'll be met by a driver who will whisk you away to Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais (*or similar). There, you will be met with a bubbly beverage at check-in and given a chance to settle into your room, spend a leisurely afternoon by the pool or wandering around the elegant park.

    To ready your palate for a sensational start, tonight we'll have dinner at Villa Cordevigo's Michelin-starred, gastronomic gem, offering you a journey of the senses through the cuisine of chef Marco Marras, unfailingly guided by the seasons, territory and the excellence of the raw materials he uses in his kitchen.

  • For our first adventure, we'll depart for a tiny trattoria, tucked into the side of a hill. There, our friend, Davide, will teach you how to roll a sheet of pasta, from mere eggs and flour, into a yard of yellow silk. At the conclusion, you'll sit down, relax and taste the fruits of your labors with some local wine. Then, we'll enter a private tasting room, where you will receive a primer on the grapes and terroir of Valpolicella.

    Later, we'll head into the heart of Verona where you can wander through the historical streets and its fairytale Christmas. Finally, we'll dine at one of the world's oldest wine bars, whose wine list would rival any. You'll also catch a glimpse of their cellar--a treat not afforded to the average tourist.

  • After breakfast, we'll depart in the morning, for a biodynamic winery in the Alto Adige region. There we will learn about their philosophy and practice of healthy viticulture and organic farming in order to manifest wine and cheese that are the products of their passion and authenticity. After a tour of their historic cellar, we'll settle in for a light lunch and complete tasting of their wines and raw milk cheeses.

    From there, we'll head to the Dolomites to bask in the holiday atmosphere at Italy's largest Christmas Market. There you can wander between wooden stalls, stocked with Alpine treasures or follow your nose as the scents of cinnamon and ginger; chocolate and roasting chestnuts lure you into their enticing hold.

    We'll finish this day with dinner at a location high in the shrouded hills of Trento, down a narrow road flanked by precipitous vineyards that opens up to a stellar house of gastronomy, with its well-earned Michelin star.

  • Following breakfast and yoga, we'll stop in one of Lake Garda's many cozy, waterfront communes, to explore its version of a European "Natale." Then we'll explore a lesser known area of wine production, Bardolino, for lunch and a wine tasting. We'll visit a hidden gem of a winery, whose delicious wines are scarcely available state-side.

    Our final evening will be spent in Verona so that you can enjoy yet another "passeggiata", to uncover any hidden corners of this romantic city which you may have missed before.

    For our farewell dinner, although its Michelin star is relatively new, its cellar, of which you'll have an exclusive peek, is housed within ancient, Roman ruins. The whole of this experience will be an absolute feast for the senses.

  • Parting is such sweet sorrow." Sarah will offer a final morning yoga session to absorb and assimilate all of your experiences of your holiday. After breakfast, you may choose to check out or feel free to stay the day and enjoy all that Villa Cordevigo has to offer, such as their spa. Whatever you choose, you will be driven back to Verona Airport or Porta Nuova Train Station for your departure. Or, if you've chosen an "Additional Adventure" with Sensi e Diletti, we will make sure to set you off in the right direction for your next destination. Either way, we sincerely hope that our paths will cross again.