Italian Sparkling Wine Journey: The Metodo Classico Route

A five-day journey through Alta Langa, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Trento DOC, exploring four distinctive expressions of Italy’s Metodo Classico sparkling wines alongside local food, landscapes and historic destinations.

5 days / 4 nights • 4 winery visits & tastings • 3 lunches • Self-drive or private transfer

About This Italian Sparkling Wine Tour

This five-day Italian sparkling wine tour connects four of Northern Italy’s most distinctive Metodo Classico territories: Alta Langa, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Trento DOC.

Travelling from Piemonte through Lombardia to Trentino, discover how altitude, climate, grape varieties and local winemaking traditions shape very different expressions of Italy’s traditional-method sparkling wines.

Along the route, selected winery visits and guided tastings introduce the character of each territory, while included lunches and free time allow you to experience the local food, landscapes and historic destinations beyond the cellar.

The journey combines wine and place, from the hills of Alta Langa and Oltrepò Pavese to Franciacorta and the mountain landscapes of Trentino, with time to explore destinations such as Canelli, Lake Iseo and Trento.

Bellia Experience coordinates wineries, hotels, lunches and travel logistics, with the flexibility to follow the route self-drive or choose private transfers for the complete journey.

Highlights

Four iconic Metodo Classico territories: Alta Langa, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Trento DOC.
Five days and four nights: Travel across Northern Italy from Piemonte to Trentino through four distinctive sparkling-wine regions.
Four selected winery visits and tastings: Discover different expressions of traditional-method sparkling wine in each territory.
Wine, landscape and local culture: Experience vineyard hills, lakeside scenery and mountain landscapes along the route.
Time to discover Canelli: Explore one of Piemonte’s historic wine towns and the heart of the Alta Langa area.
Lake Iseo and Franciacorta: Combine a winery experience with time to enjoy one of Lombardia’s most scenic lake destinations.
Trento and the mountains of Trentino: Conclude the journey with Trento DOC, mountain landscapes and time to explore the historic city.
Three included lunches and free time: Enjoy local food while keeping time to discover each destination independently.
Flexible travel style: Follow the itinerary self-drive or choose private transfers for the complete journey.

Four Territories, Four Expressions of Metodo Classico

The journey has been designed to compare four of Northern Italy’s most distinctive Metodo Classico territories, each shaped by different landscapes, climates, grape varieties and winemaking traditions.

Alta Langa introduces the hills of Piemonte and an elegant expression of traditional-method sparkling wine, closely linked to Pinot Nero, Chardonnay and long ageing on the lees.

Oltrepò Pavese reveals one of Italy’s historic areas for Pinot Nero, where the grape plays a central role in the production of Metodo Classico sparkling wines among the rolling hills of southern Lombardia.

Franciacorta combines Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and other permitted varieties with a strong sparkling-wine identity, set among vineyards between Brescia and Lake Iseo.

Trento DOC concludes the journey in the mountain landscapes of Trentino, where altitude and Alpine conditions give traditional-method sparkling wines a distinctive sense of place.

Together, the four territories offer a journey through different interpretations of the same winemaking method, showing how geography and local traditions can create remarkably different sparkling wines.

Itinerary

Day 1

Alta Langa & Canelli

Arrival • Alta Langa winery visit & tasting • Free time in Canelli • Overnight stay

Show Day 1 Details

Begin your Italian sparkling wine journey in the hills of Piemonte, home to Alta Langa DOCG.

Visit a selected winery for a guided tasting focused on Alta Langa and discover how Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, altitude and extended ageing on the lees shape the character of these traditional-method sparkling wines.

After the tasting, enjoy free time in Canelli, a historic wine town known for its underground cellars and long winemaking tradition.

The evening is free. Overnight stay in a selected hotel in the area.

If you choose the private transfer formula, pick-up can be arranged from your home, hotel or another agreed location for the journey to Canelli.

Day 2

Oltrepò Pavese

Breakfast • Journey to Oltrepò Pavese • Winery visit & tasting • Local lunch • Free time • Overnight stay

Show Day 2 Details

After breakfast, leave Piemonte and continue into Lombardia towards the rolling hills of Oltrepò Pavese.

Visit a selected producer for a guided tasting focused on the territory’s Metodo Classico wines and the important role of Pinot Nero in local sparkling-wine production.

Enjoy an included lunch featuring local flavours before spending some free time discovering the landscapes, villages and wine culture of the area.

Dinner is free. Overnight stay in a selected hotel in Oltrepò Pavese.

Day 3

Franciacorta & Lake Iseo

Breakfast • Franciacorta winery visit & tasting • Local lunch • Free time at Lake Iseo • Overnight stay

Show Day 3 Details

After breakfast, continue east towards Franciacorta, one of Italy’s best-known traditional-method sparkling-wine territories.

Visit a selected Franciacorta producer for a guided winery experience and tasting, discovering the local vineyards, grape varieties and production methods behind Franciacorta DOCG.

Enjoy an included local lunch before spending the afternoon at your own pace around Lake Iseo, with time to explore its lakeside towns and scenery.

Dinner is free. Overnight stay in the Franciacorta or Lake Iseo area.

Day 4

Trento DOC & Trento

Breakfast • Journey to Trentino • Trento DOC winery visit & tasting • Local lunch • Free time in Trento • Overnight stay

Show Day 4 Details

After breakfast, travel north towards Trentino and the mountain landscapes of Trento DOC.

Visit a selected producer for a guided tasting focused on Trento DOC and discover how altitude, Alpine climate and long ageing on the lees influence the style of these mountain sparkling wines.

Enjoy an included lunch before continuing to Trento for free time in the historic centre, with the opportunity to explore Piazza Duomo, the old town and other cultural landmarks.

Dinner is free. Overnight stay in a selected hotel in Trento.

Day 5

Trento at Your Own Pace

Breakfast • Free day in Trento • Historic centre • Optional cultural visits • End of the journey

Show Day 5 Details

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before spending the final day exploring Trento independently.

Discover the historic centre at your own pace, with the possibility of visiting landmarks such as Piazza Duomo, Buonconsiglio Castle and the city’s historic streets and squares.

The organised programme concludes in Trento, leaving you free to continue your stay in Trentino or travel onwards to your next destination.

Accommodation

The journey includes four nights in selected hotels: one night in the Alta Langa or Canelli area, one night in Oltrepò Pavese, one night in Franciacorta or around Lake Iseo, and one night in Trento.

Breakfast is included each morning on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Final hotels and room arrangements will be selected according to your travel dates, availability, preferences and the complete tailor-made proposal.

Self-Drive or Private Transfer

Self-Drive

Follow the complete itinerary in your own vehicle, travelling independently between Alta Langa, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta, Lake Iseo and Trento. Meeting points, winery addresses, hotel details and practical information will be provided with the confirmed programme.

Private Transfer

A private transfer service can be arranged for the complete journey, covering all transfers between hotels, wineries and destinations along the route. Pick-up and final drop-off can also be organised at agreed locations.

The journey begins in the Alta Langa area and concludes in Trento. Exact meeting, pick-up and drop-off points are confirmed with the final itinerary.

✔ Included

Four nights in selected hotels
Breakfast on Days 2, 3,4 and 5
Three lunches
Four winery visits with tastings
Complete five-day itinerary planning
Private transfers when selected in the confirmed proposal

❌ Excluded

Dinners
Personal expenses
Fuel, tolls and parking when travelling self-drive
Private transfers unless included in the selected proposal
Anything not expressly listed under “Included”

Why Book This Journey with Bellia Experience?

This journey has been designed to connect four of Northern Italy’s most distinctive Metodo Classico territories in one coherent route, combining wine, local food, landscapes and time to explore independently.

As certified Tour Leaders and Sommeliers, we select wineries not only for the wines they produce, but also for the stories, grape varieties, production methods and territories they represent.

From Alta Langa and Oltrepò Pavese to Franciacorta and Trento DOC, the itinerary offers a broader understanding of Italian traditional-method sparkling wine and the differences created by climate, altitude, grapes and local winemaking traditions.

Bellia Experience coordinates wineries, hotels, lunches and travel logistics, while keeping the journey flexible enough to adapt to your dates, pace and preferred travel style.

From € 850 per person

Self-drive or private transfer available

Request Availability

Elia & Isabella

Certified Tour Leaders & Sommeliers

Elia and Isabella, Bellia Experience Tour Leaders and Sommeliers

We’ll personally help you plan your sparkling wine journey through northern Italy.

Request Availability

Tell us your preferred dates and whether you would like to travel self-drive or with private transfers. We’ll reply with availability and a complete proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

The journey lasts five days and includes four overnight stays in the Alta Langa area, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta or Lake Iseo, and Trento.

The itinerary includes Alta Langa, Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Trento DOC, four distinctive Metodo Classico territories across Piemonte, Lombardia and Trentino.

The programme includes four selected winery visits with tastings, one in each Metodo Classico territory.

Depending on the selected wineries, tastings may include Alta Langa DOCG, Metodo Classico wines from Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta DOCG and Trento DOC, with a focus on the grape varieties, ageing and production styles that distinguish each territory.

The journey includes four nights in selected hotels with breakfast and three local lunches on Days 2, 3 and 4. Dinners are free.

Yes. The complete journey can be organised as a self-drive itinerary using your own vehicle.

Yes. Private transfers can be arranged for the complete journey, covering transfers between hotels, wineries and destinations, with pick-up and final drop-off at agreed locations.

Yes. The itinerary includes free time in places such as Canelli, the Lake Iseo area and Trento, allowing you to discover the local culture, landscapes and historic centres at your own pace.

Yes. The journey can be adapted according to your travel dates, interests, preferred pace and winery availability.

More About This Trip

Languages for the journey and individual winery visits will be confirmed according to your requested dates and the selected producers.

Final wineries, hotels, timings, meeting points and operational details will be confirmed in the tailor-made proposal for your requested dates.

The journey can be organised either self-drive or with private transfers. Transfer arrangements and pricing will be detailed in the final proposal.

Wine tastings are intended for guests of legal drinking age. Please communicate any allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements in advance so they can be checked with the selected suppliers.

Sending an availability request does not constitute a confirmed booking. The journey is confirmed only after acceptance of the final proposal and completion of the required booking procedure.

Payment terms, cancellation conditions and any supplier-specific policies will be provided before confirmation.

The itinerary can be adapted according to your travel dates, preferred pace, interests and winery availability. Additional nights, alternative destinations or other food, wine and cultural experiences can also be considered when designing the final journey.