Visit to Bassano del Grappa for a tour and grappa tasting at a distillery. Lunch in the lovely and idyllic hill town of Asolo. A country drive to agriturismo in the Prosecco wine region, near the enchanting hamlet of Cison di Valmarino, surrounded by woods and vineyards. Enjoy a happy hour with your guides to sip Prosecco and take in the views. Finish the day with a gourmet dinner (included) sampling regional dishes.

Day 4 - Visit the Italian town of Cividale in the quiet region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. Group lunch featuring Friuli’s best comfort food called frico, a cheese and potato fry up. Crossing the border into Slovenia’s top wine region (and perhaps most beautiful region too) of Goriska Brda, we take a tour and tasting at Slovenia’s best sparkling wine producer, Bjana, which also has the oldest cellar in the region at over 800 years old. Check into our hotel right across the street from the tiny, medieval-walled village of Smartno. Dinner on your own in Smartno.

Day 5 - Tour the trenches and bunkers of a WWI museum where fierce battles raged between Italy and Austro-Hungarian/German armies. Meet with local chef for a cooking class as we make our own lunch. Chill out late afternoon before a very special five-course group dinner that is paired with wines of Kabaj Winery, often listed on the Top 100 wineries in world by Wine & Spirits magazine.

Day 6 - Depart Brda and head to Slovenia’s tiny coastline, a mere 29 miles long. Late morning tour of Piran, a scenic and charming Venetian town along the Adriatic Sea. Tour followed by a group lunch at an organic olive farm overlooking the sea and ancient salt flats. Check into hotel at Izola, a seaside town that was once an island before being connected to the mainland in 1825. Dinner on your own in Izola.

Day 7 - Head across the border into Croatia to explore to wonderful little hill towns. Visit to artists and artisan town of Groznjan with tastings of truffle with pasta and other local delicacies. Visit to iconic Motovun, the region’s highest-standing hill town and the birthplace of racing legend Mario Andretti. Special dinner/epic goat cheese feast at a farm far off the tourist grid with home-cooked stews, sausages, tasty surprises and Croatia’s finest goat cheese. Return to hotel in Izola.