Custom trip and experience planning
Let me guide you through my beloved Umbria with only authentic experiences
I'm Melisa — a sommelier with a home in Umbria. I plan private, non-touristy trips for people who want to experience Italy the way locals actually live it: hidden wineries, real food, authentic places that aren't on any list.
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Small local wineries with history, private tours guided by the winemakers who tell their stories, for a real authentic experience. No tours, no mass tourism. Just a private tasting with the winemaker.
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I will share with you local, smaller towns in Umbria and Tuscany where you can find peace and enjoy the local rhythm. Not your typical overcrowded towns. Day Itineraries to include a custom experience close to one of this small towns to make the most of your day!
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Including on your daily itinerary recommendations of local, authentic, restaurant experiences. Only where locals go. No tourist traps, not the typical. Eat like a local with locals!
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We can plan your favorite experience from cooking class, cheese making, artisan studios, horse riding, truffle hunting, grape and olive oil harvesting, family ran farms and slow luxury accommodations.
You are in the right place if…
You love Italy but you are done with the tourist version of it
"I want to taste wine with the person who actually made it — not buy a ticket for a winery tour."
You've been to Italy before and loved it, but something felt off — too crowded, too rehearsed, too much like everywhere else. You're looking for the Italy that locals experience: smaller towns, real conversations, food that doesn't have an English menu.You want to go beyond the typical tourist circuit
You care about wine, food, and authentic culture
You'd rather have one extraordinary day than five mediocre ones
You're happy to pay for access and expertise
You're planning a special trip and you don't want to get it wrong
"We're spending €5,000 on this trip. €300 to make sure it's actually perfect? Easy decision."
Anniversary, milestone birthday, a long-overdue escape. You want this trip to feel different from everything else. Someone who knows every detail of this region — the best table at the right restaurant, the winemaker who opens the cellar just for you — is exactly what you need.
You're traveling as a couple or small group (2–6 people)
You have a budget for quality experiences
One of you is a wine lover, both of you love good food
You're also curious about life — or property — in Italy
What's included in your €300
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Your consultation
30-minute call — or email, if you prefer — with Melisa or a member of her team
You share your travel style, pace, and what matters most, in whatever format feels easiest
The right questions get asked either way — by voice or by writing
No generic forms — a real conversation -
Custom day-by-day itinerary
Built around your exact travel dates and interests
Private winery visits — Melisa contacts the winemakers directly
Restaurant reservations at places not listed online
Hidden towns, local markets, seasonal experiences
Transfers, trains, flights & accommodation — researched and booked for you, paid at cost -
Access to private experiences
Selected based on what you're into — not a fixed list.
Some options:
Truffle hunting with a local family (not a tour operator)
Cooking & cheese making with real producers
Horse riding, olive oil & grape harvest, artisan studios
Slow luxury agriturismi you won't find on Booking.com -
WhatsApp support during your trip
Melisa or a member of her team is just a message away
For real questions — a closed winery, a change of plans, where to go right now
Replies within the same day. Not a chatbot. Not a customer service inbox.
The Best Umbrian Wineries
A curated guide to the wineries, producers, and hidden cellars, straight from someone who actually lives here
What’s Inside
The wineries locals actually recommend
Where to taste Sagrantino the right way
Hidden producers not on the tourist trail
How to visit — when to go, how to book
The bottles to bring home
Free. No spam. Just wine, land, and honest recommendations
Let’s Work Together to make your next trip unforgettable!
With my local insight and personal network, you’ll experience authentic people, real places, and local stories. Save time and endless research. You won’t find most of these places advertised.
Why choose me: No middlemen. I’m a local who has experienced first hand almost all wineries and winemakers in the area, and can point you to hidden gems, authentic places, and private experiences — all priced by a local.
