7 Days in European Wine Country Itineraries

Seven days in European wine country. Long enough to genuinely experience a region. Short enough that every day matters.

The average wine tourist wastes 2 to 3 days per week on poor planning: wrong accommodations, over-booked schedules, missed reservations, and exhausting logistics.

These itineraries eliminate the guesswork. Pick your destination, pick your budget, and follow the plan.

Quick Budget Comparison

All budgets include: accommodation, meals, tastings, and local transportation. Flights not included.

Tuscany, Italy: 7-Day Itineraries

Rolling hills, cypress trees, medieval villages, and Italy’s greatest wines. Tuscany delivers on every wine trip fantasy.

Budget Tuscany: €800 to €1,200 ($880 to $1,320)

Base: Agriturismo (farm stay) outside Montepulciano

Day 1: Arrival

• Fly into Florence, pick up rental car
• Drive to Montepulciano area (2 hours)
• Check into agriturismo (€60 to €80/night)
• Walk Montepulciano’s medieval streets
• Casual dinner in town (€25/person)
• Day cost: €100 to €130

Day 2: Montepulciano Deep Dive

• Morning: Free tastings at small producers (they exist)
• Lunch: Picnic from local shops (€10)
• Afternoon: Explore Montepulciano, sample Vino Nobile
• Dinner: Cook at agriturismo with market ingredients (€15)
• Day cost: €50 to €70

Day 3: Montalcino Excursion

• Day trip to Montalcino (45 minutes)
• Morning: Affordable Brunello tasting (€10 to €15)
• Lunch: Packed picnic in vineyard (€10)
• Afternoon: Second small producer, walk the fortress
• Sunset from the fortress walls (free)
• Dinner back at agriturismo
• Day cost: €60 to €80

Day 4: Chianti Road Trip

• Drive through Chianti Classico
• Morning: Cooperative winery (great value, €5 to €10 tasting)
• Lunch: Trattoria in Greve in Chianti (€20)
• Afternoon: Explore Greve, Saturday market if timing works
• Return for dinner at agriturismo
• Day cost: €60 to €80

Day 5: Pienza and Val d’Orcia

• Morning: UNESCO village of Pienza
• Cheese tasting (pecorino is famous here, often free)
• Lunch: Simple pasta in Pienza (€18)
• Afternoon: Drive the Val d’Orcia (iconic cypress roads)
• Photo stops, small town wandering
• Dinner at agriturismo
• Day cost: €50 to €70

Day 6: Flexible Day

• Revisit favorite producer to buy wine
• Explore missed towns
• Long lunch at a winery you discovered
• Pack and prepare for departure
• Final dinner in Montepulciano (€30)
• Day cost: €60 to €90

Day 7: Florence Departure

• Morning drive to Florence (1.5 hours)
• Optional: Quick city walk before flight
• Return rental car, depart
• Day cost: €30 (gas + coffee)

Total budget breakdown:

Mid-Range Tuscany: €1,500 to €2,500 ($1,650 to $2,750)

Base: Boutique hotel in Pienza or Siena

Upgrades from budget:

• Charming boutique hotels (€120 to €180/night)
• Pre-booked appointments at notable estates
• Winery lunches (€40 to €60)
• One full-day with private driver (€250)
• Nicer restaurant dinners (€50 to €70)

Key additions:

• Day 3: Appointment tasting at Biondi-Santi or Castello Banfi
• Day 4: Antinori nel Chianti Classico (stunning architecture)
• Day 5: Avignonesi with Vin Santo tasting
• Day 6: Cooking class (€80 to €120)

Luxury Tuscany: €4,000+ ($4,400+)

Base: Castello Banfi Wine Resort or Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Experience level:

• Wine estate accommodation (€400 to €800/night)
• Private transfers from Florence
• VIP tastings at legendary estates
• Helicopter vineyard tour (€500)
• Private cooking classes with local chefs
• Michelin-starred dinners
• Personal sommelier guidance
• Priority barrel tastings of unreleased wines

Bordeaux, France: 7-Day Itineraries

The world’s most famous wine region. Grand châteaux, legendary names, and seriously good food. Explore our guide to Bordeaux to learn what makes this region iconic.

Budget Bordeaux: €700 to €1,100 ($770 to $1,210)

Base: Apartment in Bordeaux city center or guesthouse in Saint-Émilion

Day 1 to 2: Bordeaux City

• Explore wine bars (glasses €5 to €12)
• La Cité du Vin museum (€20, excellent value)
• Chartrons neighborhood restaurants
• Day cost: €60 to €80

Day 3 to 4: Right Bank (Saint-Émilion)

• Train to Saint-Émilion (€10)
• Free walking tour of medieval village
• Small producer tastings (€5 to €15)
• Famous macarons from local bakery
• Day cost: €50 to €70

Day 5 to 6: Left Bank Day Trips

• Book free tours at accommodating châteaux
• Explore Margaux and Pauillac villages
• Picnic among the legendary vines
• Day cost: €40 to €60

Day 7: Markets and Departure

• Sunday market in Bordeaux
• Final tastings at Badie wine bar
• Day cost: €30 to €50

Total: €700 to €1,100

Mid-Range Bordeaux: €1,500 to €2,500 ($1,650 to $2,750)

Base: Hotel in Saint-Émilion village center

Upgrades:

• Appointment tastings at Grand Cru Classé estates
• Full day with driver in Médoc (€300)
• Lunch at château restaurants
• Sauternes excursion including Château d’Yquem attempt

Luxury Bordeaux: €5,000+ ($5,500+)

Base: Les Sources de Caudalie spa resort

Experience level:

• First Growth estate private tastings (Lafite, Margaux, etc.)
• Helicopter transfers between banks
• Library wine tastings (20+ year old vintages)
• Multi-course meals paired with rare bottles
• Vinotherapy spa treatments
• Private barrel room dinners

Rioja, Spain: 7-Day Itineraries

Rioja, Spain’s most prestigious wine region, offers exceptional value, incredible hospitality, and world-class food.

Budget Rioja: €600 to €900 ($660 to $990)

Base: Guesthouse in Haro or Laguardia

Day 1 to 2: Haro (Wine Capital)

• Walk the Barrio de la Estación (historic bodega district)
• Affordable bodega visits (€5 to €15, some free)
• Evening pintxos crawl (€2 to €3 per pintxo)
• Wine bars with incredible €3 glasses
• Day cost: €50 to €70

Day 3 to 4: Laguardia

• Medieval walled town exploration
• Underground cellar tours (carved into rock)
• Rioja Alavesa producer tastings
• Dinner in the town square
• Day cost: €50 to €70

Day 5 to 6: Modern Architecture Bodegas

• Marqués de Riscal (Gehry building exterior, free)
• López de Heredia (€15, traditional winemaking)
• Family producer visits
• Logroño evening pintxos marathon
• Day cost: €60 to €80

Day 7: San Sebastián Excursion

• Day trip to world’s best food city (1.5 hours)
• Pintxos marathon across the old town
• Beach time
• Optional: Txakoli wine tasting
• Day cost: €60 to €90

Why Rioja is cheapest: Spanish wine tourism is dramatically more affordable than France or Italy. Pintxos cost €2 to €4 each. Many bodegas have low or no tasting fees. Accommodation runs 30 to 40% less than comparable quality elsewhere.

Total: €600 to €900

Mid-Range Rioja: €1,200 to €1,800 ($1,320 to $1,980)

Upgrades:

• Boutique wine hotel (€100 to €150/night)
• Reserve wine tastings at top bodegas
• Lunch at Marqués de Riscal restaurant
• Full San Sebastián day with Michelin pintxos bar visits
• Private vineyard walks

Luxury Rioja: €3,000+ ($3,300+)

Base: Marqués de Riscal Gehry hotel (wine resort)

Experience level:

• VIP access at century-old bodegas
• Library wine tastings (50+ year old Reservas)
• Private cooking classes with Basque chefs
• Helicopter over the Sierra de Cantabria
• Multi-course dinners in barrel rooms
• Day trip to San Sebastián with 3-Michelin-star restaurant

How to Choose Your Region

First wine trip ever? Tuscany or Rioja. More welcoming, easier logistics.

Wine connoisseur? Bordeaux for the legendary estates and Bordeaux wine tours.

Foodie priority? Rioja, especially combined with San Sebastián.

Best value overall? Rioja by a significant margin.

Universal Packing List

• Comfortable walking shoes (vineyards are uneven, especially in wine destinations like Tuscany)
• Light layers (cellars are cold, vineyards are sunny)
• Wine opener (for impromptu picnics)
• Wine skins for checked luggage (pack purchases safely)
• Notebook or Sommo app (you will forget tastings)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (harvest season is bright)
• Business casual outfit (some estates have dress codes)

Use Sommo throughout your trip to scan, rate, and remember every wine you taste. A week creates dozens of wine memories worth preserving.

Photo by SOHAM BANERJEE on Unsplash