A Regional Guide for Slow, Flavourful Travel
From Alpine pastures to Mediterranean groves, Italy’s food landscape is a delicious mosaic of regional expression. Each area offers its own terroir-driven specialties—cheeses shaped by ancient methods, olive oils that carry the sun and soil, and wines that evoke the very history of their land. Here’s your curated guide to five of Italy’s most deliciously distinctive regions, offering immersive ways to taste, learn, and indulge the Italian way.
Sicily
Why Go: Sun-soaked coastline, volcanic soils, and a layered cultural history that blends Greek, Arab, and Spanish influences.
Where to Stay & Taste
Planeta – La Foresteria (Menfi): A sophisticated wine estate offering cooking classes, oil and wine tastings, and farm-to-table meals with stunning views.
Tasca d’Almerita – Regaleali Estate: Set in the island’s heartland, this historic estate lets you sip wines among olive trees and stay in elegant villas surrounded by vines.
🧀 Cheese
Pecorino Siciliano DOP: A hard sheep’s cheese dating back to ancient Greek times with a savoury, spicy edge that stands up well to full-bodied red wines.
Ricotta Infornata: Dense, slightly-sweet cheese made by baking ricotta until it forms a golden crust.
🫒 Olive Oil
Nocellara del Belice EVOO: Hailing from the Valle del Belice, this prized green-gold oil is buttery, with notes of fresh herbs and almonds.
Biancolilla & Cerasuola Blends: These lighter cultivars are often blended for complexity—Biancolilla brings floral softness, while Cerasuola adds structure and bitterness.
🥂 Wines
Etna Rosso DOC: Crafted from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes grown on Mount Etna’s black volcanic soils.
Nero d’Avola: Sicily’s flagship red. Look for top producers like Planeta, Gulfi, or COS for wines with both power and finesse.
Lombardy
Why Go: A tapestry of Alpine influences, dairy excellence, and sophisticated wines, where risotto meets mountain cheese and sparkling wine.
Where to Stay & Taste
- L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux (Franciacorta): A vineyard hotel with a private cellar, Henri Chenot wellness spa, and wine-focused experiences.
- Conti Thun Wine Resort: A lakeside gem combining boutique suites with olive oil tastings, vineyard walks, and yoga among the vines.
🧀 Cheese
- Gorgonzola DOP: One of the world’s oldest blue cheeses, made in the Po Valley. Dolce is creamy and mild; Piccante is aged, and crumbly.
- Taleggio DOP: A square, washed-rind cheese with a strong aroma and a soft, fruity interior. Ideal for polenta, risotto, or even pizza.
🫒 Olive Oil
Lake Garda DOP EVOO: Pressed from Casaliva olives, this northern oil is delicate, lightly fruity, and slightly almondy.
🥂 Wines
- Franciacorta DOCG: Italy’s top traditional-method sparkling wine. Made from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco, it rivals Champagne with elegance.
- Lugana DOC: Crisp white wine from the southern shore of Lake Garda. Made with Trebbiano di Lugana, it’s mineral, zesty, and perfect with seafood.
Emilia-Romagna
Why Go: The "stomach of Italy," Emilia-Romagna delivers bold cheeses, artisanal oils, and rich wines, and is home to iconic food cities like Bologna, Modena, and Parma.
Where to Stay & Taste
- Casa Artusi (Forlimpopoli): A cultural institution offering hands-on pasta and cheese-making classes based on Italy’s first cookbook.
- Opera02 (Modena): A sustainable wine and oil estate offering tastings, fine dining, and overnight stays near the balsamic heartland.
🧀 Cheese
- Parmigiano Reggiano DOP: The king of Italian cheeses, aged up to 36 months. Nutty, crystalline, and essential in pastas, risottos, and even dessert pairings.
- Squacquerone di Romagna DOP: A soft, spreadable cheese with a tangy flavour.
🫒 Olive Oil
Brisighella DOP EVOO: Made from Nostrana olives, this highly-prized oil has spicy notes of artichoke, green tomato, and herbs.
🥂 Wines
- Albana di Romagna DOCG: A full-bodied white with apricot, almond, and honey tones. One of the few Italian whites granted DOCG status.
- Sangiovese di Romagna DOC: A fruit-forward, easy-drinking red that pairs with nearly anything from the Emilia table.
Sardinia
Why Go: Bold cheeses, robust wines, and intensely flavoured olive oils that reflect centuries of shepherding and seafaring traditions.
Where to Stay & Taste
Cantina Mesa (Sant’Anna Arresi): Architecturally stunning winery producing Carignano and Vermentino. Tours end with sea-view tastings.
Tenute Dettori (Sennori): Biodynamic winery. No sulfites, no intervention—just nature and tradition in a glass.
Hotel Su Gologone (Oliena): Boutique art lodge offering Sardinian craft workshops, oil pressing, cheese tastings, and vineyard tours.
🧀 Cheese
Fiore Sardo DOP: A hard, smoked sheep’s milk cheese aged over open fires. Spicy and earthy, it’s often grated over pasta or paired with Cannonau.
Pecorino Sardo DOP: Milder than Fiore, with a dense texture and a buttery, slightly sweet flavour. Excellent on a cheese board with Sardinian flatbread.
🫒 Olive Oil
Bosana EVOO: Sardinia’s signature olive yields a powerful, green oil with notes of artichoke, green almond, and pepper. Best with grilled meats, vegetables, or traditional pane carasau.
🥂 Wines
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG: The island’s only DOCG wine. Crisp, floral, and salty—ideal with seafood and shellfish.
Carignano del Sulcis: A full-bodied coastal red with soft tannins and deep berry flavors, grown on ancient bush vines near the sea.
Puglia
Why Go: With ancient olive groves, whitewashed masserie, and a bounty of rustic ingredients, Puglia is a land of richness and simplicity.
Where to Stay & Taste
- Masseria Il Frantoio (Ostuni): Whitewashed farmhouse estate with 1,500+ olive trees. Offers 8-course dinners, olive oil tastings, and local wine pairings.
- Antichi Sapori (Montegrosso): Chef Pietro Zito’s farm-to-table icon in a tiny village. Uses ancient grains, wild herbs, and Pugliese cheeses.
- Masseria Torre Maizza (Savelletri di Fasano): Luxury retreat with rooftop aperitivo bar, olive grove spa, and Michelin-level dining.
🧀 Cheese
Burrata di Andria IGP: A mozzarella pouch filled with creamy stracciatella, best enjoyed fresh with ripe tomatoes or grilled bread.
Canestrato Pugliese DOP: A firm, salty sheep’s cheese aged in reed baskets. Ideal grated over orecchiette with turnip greens.
🫒 Olive Oil
Coratina EVOO: A powerhouse oil—intensely green, peppery, and loaded with polyphenols.
Ogliarola Barese: Softer and more balanced, with notes of almond and fresh herbs. Great for everyday use.
🥂 Wines
Primitivo di Manduria DOC: Rich, full-bodied red with blackberry jam, spice, and high alcohol. A Southern Italian classic.
Negroamaro: Rustic and earthy with dark fruit and herbaceous notes. Commonly blended but beautiful on its own.
The Final Sip
Italy’s regional flavours are more than culinary—they’re cultural, emotional, and experiential. From the alpine caves of Piedmont to the volcanic slopes of Sicily, the country’s finest cheeses, oils, and wines invite travellers to slow down, savour deeply, and connect with the land and its stories. Whether you’re sipping Franciacorta in a vineyard suite or pressing olive oil under the Puglian sun, Italy rewards those who travel through taste. Get in touch to start planning your own Italian food & wine adventure.
