CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Rick Stein is famous enough to need no introduction. The UK-born chef has won scores of prestigious awards over the years and his many publications and TV series have made him a household name across the globe.

Roll up your sleeves and don your apron because, this lunchtime, you are the chef! Against the backdrop of the dramatic Tuscan Hills, meet a skilled local chef who will teach you the art of making the perfect pasta.

France is renowned for some of the best food and wine anywhere in the world. Discover why as we enjoy an unbeatable culinary experience at a private vineyard in the village of Seguret, near Orange in the Provence region of southern France.

During your stay in Southern Spain, enjoy authentic Spanish tapas and learn more about this age-old Iberian tradition.

The Pudding Club was founded at the Three Ways House Hotel in 1985 to prevent the demise of the great British Pudding, at a time when restaurants seemed to offer only tiny portions of Frozen Cheesecake and tasteless Gateaux. Enjoy dinner at the world famous Pudding Club on our Highlights of Britain tour.

For those who enjoy top class food, why not see Southern England in a different light with our dedicated culinary tour of Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Dorset.

Tucked away in a corner of St Oswald’s churchyard, the tiny Gingerbread shop has changed very little since Sarah Nelson opened for business in the 1850s. The wonderful aroma of freshly baked gingerbread is enough to lead you inside this tiny shop - hear about its history and taste Sarah’s famous gingerbread on our Scottish Borders & English Lakes tour.

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at Cefn Park, where the owners of this country estate will tell us the fascinating story of how they unearthed and restored the original Victorian kitchen.

Enjoy a tour of Chateau de la Bourdaisière’s gardens including its dahlia garden and tomato conservatory, which houses no less than 600 heirloom varieties. We then learn the art of French cooking with one of the chateau’s chefs before sitting down to enjoy the lunch we have cooked.

Visit the Perching Bar, built high up in the trees of the famous Verzy Forest. Taste Champagne and enjoy the exceptional views over the Champagne plains.

Ston has a long history of mariculture and as a result is world famous for its oyster production. On our Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast Tour you will have the opportunity to taste some of the best oysters in the region directly from an oyster farm.

Discover the secrets behind Scotland’s famous whisky with unique behind-the-scenes tours of some of the country’s fascinating distilleries.

Travelling North, we explore Portugal’s beautiful but remote Douro Valley, the home of port wine. Sample fine fortified wines, most commonly served as aperitifs and after-dinner drinks.

Explore the delights of Burgundy, one of the most famous and influential wine growing regions in the world. Accompanied by our local wine expert, we will explore the Route des Vins de Bourgogne, learn about the history of this celebrated wine region and enjoy wine tasting at a local vineyard.

Bibich Winery is located in the hills of Skradin, east of the idyllic port city of Šibenik along Croatia’s island speckled coast. Enjoy wine tasting and tapas at this family-run winery while learning about the history of the region and how their exceptional wines are produced.

Visit Castle of Verrazzano, located on a hilltop in the Chianti Classico area, the first grape growing and wine producing area in the world! After visiting the castle and its historical ageing cellars, we taste a selection of wines and then enjoy lunch, which has been prepared using ingredients from local producers.

In a typically Augeron setting, visit a small-scale family cellar, which has produced cider and calvados since 1865. For generations Pierre HUET Calvados has taken the greatest of care to produce cider and to mature quality Calvados. Tour the manor and estate before sampling the award winning cider and calvados.