Study Abroad

Expand your horizons with wine travel

A 360-degree view of the region

Our industry-recognized educational wine tours offer intensive, professional-level education within wine regions of France, Italy, Spain and beyond. Led by prominent wine professionals, Masters of Wine and journalists, our itineraries and curricula provide a backstage pass to the most celebrated wine regions.

2024 Educational Wine Tours Destinations & Dates

Portugal

Apr 7 - 12, 2024

Rioja

May 5 - 10, 2024

Sicily

May 12 - May 17, 2024

Bourgogne

May 12 - 17, 2024

Mosel

May 26 - 31, 2024

Champagne

May 28 - June 01, 2024

Piedmont

Jun 02 - 07, 2024

Rhône Valley

Jun 16 - 21, 2024

Campania

Oct 13 - 18, 2024

Bordeaux

Oct 20 - 25, 2024

2024 Masters Immersion Destinations & Dates

Why Study Abroad With Us?

The knowledge, the camaraderie and the memories are immeasurable and unforgettable. Most who have been on one trip have been returning for more ever since!

Tastings Tailored For Professionals, Serious Enthusiasts and Wine Collectors
We taste extensively. You will have the opportunity to taste sought-after wines, barrel samples and rare cuvées that do not often reach the export market.
See For Yourself
There is no better way to fully understand wine than seeing with your own two eyes. Our hands-on experiences are something you cannot obtain from books alone.
Access: Meet The Winemakers & Experts
Meet the masters behind the bottles. On previous wine trips, groups have met the winemakers at renowned estates such as Louis Roederer in Champagne, Château Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, Clos de Tart in Burgundy and Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace, among many others.
Visit Iconic Estates And Rising Stars
We feature established, historic wineries as well as lesser-known estates, allowing you to see the icons as well as discover hidden gems and upcoming stars.
Be Part Of A Community
Composed of professionals and serious enthusiasts, your small group of no more than 18 participants will be intimate enough to get to know everyone and to ensure you feel comfortable together. 
Hassle-Free Planning
We will maximize your time with smooth transitions from one extraordinary experience to another. You can also choose whether you stay a little longer or arrive before to make the most of the wine travel experience. 

Led by Top-Notch Instructors

Led by top wine industry professionals, our itineraries combine luxury travel with unparalleled wine education and insider access to some of the best cellars and vineyards in the world for hands-on learning and unparalleled tasting opportunities.

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Simon Woolf

Wine journalist and author

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Andrew Jefford

Award-winning wine journalist and author

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Kerin O'Keefe

Wine author and founder of kerinokeefe.com

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Jonas Tofterup MW

Master of Wine specialized in Spanish Wines

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Essi Avellan MW

Master of Wine specialized in Champagne

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Robin Kick MW

Master of Wine specialized in Bourgogne

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Timothy Magnus

Wine educator specialized in Bourgogne

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Caro Mauer MW

Master of Wine specialized in German Wines

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Matt Walls

Decanter's Rhône Valley correspondent

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Pascaline Lepeltier

2018 Best Sommelier of France & 4th place finalist in the Best Sommelier of the World 2023

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Jane Hunt MW

Master of Wine specialized in Italian Wines

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Andrea Eby

WSG Italian Programs Director

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You’ll learn so much more than you would on your own! Internationally renowned instructors are with you at all times throughout the trip, giving fascinating information, making sure you understand the nuances and subtleties of the region and its wines, and responding to all of your questions. 
  • You will have amazing tastings and get access to estates you would not be able to visit on your own.  We have the highest-level contacts in each region. You’ll get to taste fascinating wines at each estate, and you’ll be welcomed as an honored guest. 
  • Your instructor has lived or worked in France, Italy, Spain, or other countries we run tours in, for many years. This has allowed them to cultivate extensive experience and contacts within the region. You’ll get expert information about the wine business there, and an insider’s take on local culture. 
  • You will not have to take chances on hotels or restaurants you don’t know.  With more than a decade of experience in these wine regions, we use our first-hand knowledge to choose the best hotels and restaurants. 
  • Your itinerary makes the most of the limited time you have in the wine region, minimizes driving time, and ensures that you get a thorough overview of the region and its wines. 
  • You don’t have to worry about getting lost (which is easy to do on the backroads of France or Italy!), or about drinking wine at meals. You can just relax, enjoy and learn. 
  • You get the camaraderie and pleasure of exploring the wine region with other like-minded people who are as passionate about wine as you are. 
  • Your instructor and tour manager will translate for the group at all times, so you will have no communication issues, as many winemakers in France, Italy and Spain have limited English. 
Preparing for the trip

Please ask the instructor if there is enough time at the end of the visit for you to make your purchase without impeding the progress and timing of the trip.  Not all estates sell onsite in Bordeaux, for example, very few of the Classified Growth châteaux sell wine at the château (they sell exclusively through wine merchants). It is rare that estates offer international shipping.    

If you would like to purchase wine, we recommend that you ask your government’s customs office for their rules and regulations if you intend to bring wine back into your country, or have wine shipped to you.  

You always have the option of bringing wine home with you in your checked luggage. A specialized wine suitcase is perfect for this. Depending on your home country, this amount will vary. You may have to pay some amount of duty on your wine when you go through customs. Therefore, it's best to check with your local authorities for further information.  

TRANSPORTATION, FOOD & LODGING

We choose 4-star hotels to ensure a high level of comfort, including en-suite bathrooms, WiFi and air conditioning.  It’s very important for the hotels to be well situated in the region, to keep driving time and distance to a minimum. We want to make sure you are as close as possible to the vineyards and other local sites of interest. The hotels we choose also must be large enough to accommodate groups.  

We thoroughly check out each hotel before including it in a trip. In wine regions that are large and spread out, you will only change hotels once or twice during a week-long trip (to keep driving times to a minimum each day), and in other regions, there is only one centrally located hotel.

Organizers & Instructors

Our trip instructors are among the most renowned and respected wine professionals in the wine business. They are also professional wine educators who are absolutely passionate about the region and its wines.  

You can see a full biography of the instructor for each trip on the corresponding page, so you can know exactly with whom you'll be touring and learning.  Most are native English speakers (American or British), and all other instructors speak English fluently. Our instructors have that special combination of high-level wine expertise, personal warmth, friendliness, and excellent leadership skills. They'll accompany you every day, throughout the trip, and will be able to answer all of your questions about the wines of the region you’ll be visiting (and about wine in general).  

Booking a trip

Yes, we strongly encourage you to purchase a very comprehensive travel insurance package once you have paid your deposit for a Study Trip.  Note that many plans require you to purchase the insurance very soon after your deposit payment (some require it within 14 days).  

There are any number of things that can happen that can cause cancellation or interruption of package travel, and travel insurance can help cover the costs you incur as a result.  You can find travel insurers easily and there are sites where you can compare policies (for example, Insure My Trip).  

Be sure to read policies very carefully before you purchase.  Include your airfare, train fare, and any other expenses you will have in addition to the price of the study trip itself.  We highly recommend getting a “cancel for any reason” policy, which offers the best coverage. Travel experts say “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel,” so don’t skimp on this important coverage!

Have a different question? Feel free to contact us.

Questions?

Contact us today.