Food Wine Culture Tours
216 Lindbergh Avenue
Frederick, MD 21701 USA
Toll free (866) 874-4219
Phone: (301) 663-9160
Day 1 - Arrival Zürich
After a morning arrival in Zürich and welcome at the airport, you will
transfer to the 3 star hotel where you will spend the night. After lunch, enjoy
the sights of old and modern Zurich: the historical guildhouses and medieval
churches on the banks of the Limmat river, the lake with its parks and harbors,
the elegant shopping area of the Bahnhofstrasse and the banking and university
district. View the famous Chagall windows at Fraumunster church and stop at
"Rigiblick", a balcony overlooking the city and the Alps.
Before dinner you will taste local wine at the wine cellar Mjuhle in Stafa.
Day 2 - Zürich – Lugano
After breakfast, you will stop on the way to eastern Switzerland at Stein for
a visit to a dairy to see how Swiss cheese is made. You will continue your journey
to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, stopping along the way at the picturesque
hamlet of Werdenberg. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive by Chur
and San Bernadino Pass to Lugano in the Ticino, the Italian speaking area of
Switzerland and our 3 star hotel for the next 3 nights.
Day 3 - Lugano and the Ticino region
You will depart to Ligornetto to the Vinattieri Ticinesti Winery for a tasting
of red wines. Afterwards, there will be a guided city tour of Lugano and its
pleasant surroundings. View the panoramic area of Ruvigliana and Castagnola,
the center with its monument of Independence, the Town Hall, Old Town and Saint
Mary's Church. There will be time to stroll along the lakeside promenade and
walk the quaint narrow streets through the arcaded Old Town. Dinner in a rustic
restaurant GROTTO with wines of the region.
Day 4 - Lugano and excursion on Lago Maggiore to the Borromean Islands
and Gardens
Leave Lugano across Mt. Ceneri Pass into the Magadino plain and lake Maggiore.
You will have time to visit Locarno, a beautiful town and resort which lies
in the hollow of a sunny bay. We will stop at Ascona, a former, colorful fishing
village which has long been a favorite with artists. After a drive along the
scenic lakeside road into Italy and Pallanza, we will take a boat to the Borromean
Islands for a visit of its 17th Century palace and the beautiful terraced gardens.
There will be time to shop, relax, and to explore. We will take the ferry to
Laveno and continue via Ponte-Tresa back to Lugano.
Day 5 - Lugano – Sion
Travel by bus through Valle Leventina and Valle Bedretto over Gotthard pass
to Andermatt. By train from Andermatt to Brig along the route of the famous
Glacier Express. From Brig we drive to Sion. In the bilingual capital town of
the Canton of Valais, the past and the future seamlessly meet. The Old Town,
the castles and museums are relics of the past that hug the Valère and
Tourbillon Hills. The town is surrounded by vineyards and is located in one
of the main vine-growing regions of Switzerland specializing in white wines
such as Fendant. Before dinner, visit vinery Gilliard with presentation by Robert
Gilliard who symbolizes the multi-generation family tradition. Dinner with regional
specialties at the winery Château Villa Sierre.
Day 6 – The Valais Vineyards region
After breakfast, depart by bus to Visperterminen (Europe's highest vineyards).
There will be a wine tasting at J. Chardon. Afterwards travel by bus to Tasch
and by train to Zermatt to explore this car free mountain mecca. Optional excursion
by cogwheel train to the Gornergrat. Return to Sion. Dinner at the Spa-Hotel-
des Vignes.
Day 7 - Sion to Lausanne
After breakfast, we will travel to the Geneva Region. On the way, visit Vétroz
Bon Père Germanier for a tour and tasting. It was in 1896 that Urbain
Germanier founded his vineyard at Balavaud, Vetroz . Later, his three sons,
Francis, Paul and Charles ensured the continuation of what has becoming a real
dynasty of wine growers. In 1945, Francis first distilled Pear Eau-de-Vie and
The Bon Père William was born. Today, two young winemakers of the 3rd
and 4th generation, Jean-René Germanier and Gilles Besse are producing
wines considered among the best of Switzerland. The tour will continue as we
drive through the Saane valley to Gruyeres, world famous for its cheese. This
fortified little town lies on top of a hill in a landscape full of grace and
harmony. Visit the model cheese dairy and stroll along the cobblestone streets.
Continue to your 3 star hotel in Lausanne.
Day 8 - The Vineyards of the Lake Geneva region
After breakfast, there will be a morning boat trip on Lake Geneva from Lausanne
to Montreux. Just outside Montreux, built on a rocky islet stands one of Switzerland's
most impressive buildings: "Chillon Castle". On our visit slip back
into the mysterious world of medieval nobility and learn about the castle's
famous prisoner, Bonivard, immortalized in Lord Byron's poem. Continue to Aigle
to visit the Château d'Aigle, an imposing fortress built in the XIIIth
century by the Savoyards, transformed by the Bernese restored in 1973 and surrounded
by vineyards. Under its roof, the Musée Vaudois de la Vigne et du Vin
found a worthy setting for its collections on the wine-growers heritage and
the cultural traditions of wine.
Lunch with wines from the region followed by a drive through vineyards of the
Lake Geneva region including the villages of St. Saphorin, Yvorne, Chexbres,
Rivaz and Epesses including a tour. In the afternoon, experience a cooking class
with a local chef of the region. For dinner enjoy what has been arranged by
you along with the chef.
Day 9 - Lausanne - Lucerne
Depart after breakfast via Fribourg to Berne, the romantic capital of Switzerland.
Enjoy a city sightseeing tour of this historic city with its splendid preserved
arcaded Old Town. See the gothic cathedral, the fountains decorated with flowers
and statues, the Clock Tower with the famous figure play, the Swiss House of
Parliament and Berne's heraldic animals at the Bear Pit. Stop at the Rosegarden
with a nice overall view of the Old Town, nestling in one of the loops of the
Aare river. After lunch, drive to Lucerne through the Emmental valley. Enjoy
the mid-afternoon walking sightseeing tour of Lucerne, including the Old Town
with its quaint streets and squares, busy market places and decorated houses.
Walk across the wooden Chapel Bridge with its unique historical paintings. See
the Old Town Hall, the Jesuit church and the Lion Monument. Overnight in Lucerne
on the lake. Farewell dinner.
Day 10 - LUCERNE – Departure by bus to the Zurich airport