An 8-Day Italian Journey with Chelsea and Gigi

At a Glance

• March 31 to April 7, 2027
• Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and the Veneto
• Limited to 6 travelers, plus trip leads
• €4,200 per person double occupancy
• €4,900 per person single occupancy

To request a spot on this trip, please contact us with your name and occupancy preference (single or shared accommodation). A €500 non-refundable deposit reserves your place. The final balance is due December 1, 2026. Because this journey is limited to six travelers, spaces cannot be held without a deposit.

Inclusive Journey

Travel with social scientist Gigi Coulson, M.S., and wine expert Chelsea Stephens, PhD, for an intimate Italian journey designed for curious travelers who want more than a tasting room checklist. This carefully paced experience explores Italy through wine, food, social history, landscape, and community.

From the Medici legacy of Florence to the fortress culture of Montalcino, from Chianti Classico and Brunello to dry Lambrusco and Veneto whites and reds, each day is built as a chapter in a larger story: how Italian wine reflects land, labor, class, trade, family, memory, and place.

This is not a big-bus tour. It is a small, conversational journey for travelers who want context, connection, good food, and wines that open the door to history.

Because this trip is intentionally limited to six travelers, space is extremely limited. Interested travelers are encouraged to request information early.

• Focus: Italian wine, foodways, social history, cultural landscapes, and regional identity
• Pace: intimate, educational, sensory, and thoughtfully paced
• Regions: Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and the Veneto
• Base hotels: near San Casciano in Val di Pesa and near Castel San Pietro Terme

What is Included

Included in the trip price:

• 7 nights lodging in carefully selected accommodations
• Arrival transfer from Florence airport to Tuscan villa lodging
• Return transfer from Bologna-region lodging to Florence airport
• Group transportation for scheduled itinerary activities
• Winery, enoteca, and tasting appointments listed in the final itinerary
• Daily breakfast
• 7 selected group meals, including welcome and farewell dinners
• Educational leadership by Gigi Coulson, M.S., and Chelsea Stephens, PhD
• Curated discussions on wine, foodways, social history, and regional identity
• Planning, coordination, and reservation management for the group itinerary

Not included:

• Airfare
• Travel insurance
• Personal purchases and wine shipping
• Meals or drinks outside the group itinerary
• Optional activities during free time
• Passport, visa, baggage, medical, or other personal travel costs
• Tips and gratuities unless included in final trip materials

Led by Chelsea and Gigi

Gigi Coulson, M.S.

Gigi Coulson is a social scientist and longtime student of Italy whose work and interests center cultural history, community, identity, and the stories people tell through place. Gigi brings 15 years of study of Italy to this journey, with special attention to social context, historical memory, and the lived experience behind monuments, meals, and landscapes.

Chelsea Stephens, PhD

Chelsea Stephens, PhD, is a sommelier and wine educator who brings technical knowledge, tasting guidance, and a deep appreciation for the cultural life of wine. Chelsea will help travelers understand grape varieties, regional styles, winemaking choices, and how to taste with confidence and curiosity.

Together, Chelsea and Gigi create a journey that blends scholarship and pleasure: serious enough to be meaningful, relaxed enough to be joyful.