2026 Alumni & Friends Travel Plans

Our 2026 Alumni and Friends group trip is a Food & Wine Tour: Northern Italy & the Italian Riviera. It is set for June 27-July 8, 2026. The 12-day trip begins in Milan, Italy and ends in Verona, Italy.

Eating isn’t just a part of the daily grind here—it’s a full-on art form. Stand beside the masters in their kitchens, farms, and wineries and learn the ins and outs of the region’s knockout delights. From wine on the Riviera to Parmigiano-Reggiano in Parma to fresh-cooked tagliatelle in Bologna, prepare to indulge in the best the region has to offer on this small group Food & Wine Tour.

The base cost of the trip is approximately $7,400 per person for double occupancy (contact me for single occupancy rates). This price includes airfare from Birmingham (Go Ahead can book flights from a different airport). Also included - 10 nights in handpicked hotels, 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners with beer or wine, 2 wine tastings, 4 food tastings, 1 cooking class, 6 sightseeing tours, an expert Tour Director & local guides, and a private deluxe motor coach. To see a more detailed itinerary, go to https://groups.goaheadtours.com/tours/food-and-wine-with-holly

You can book online or by phone with EF Go Ahead Tours at 800-438-7672. Space is limited to 22. Spots are going fast!

The itinerary for the trip includes:

Day 1: Flight to Milan.

Day 2: Arrive in Milan and transfer to Turin.

Day 3: Tour of Turin

Day 4: Piedmont truffle hunt

Day 5: Italian Riviera, Castle of Grinzane Cavour & Barolo wine tasting.

Day 6: Free day on the Italian Riviera.

Day 7: Head to Bologna through the Parma Region.

Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Bologna.

Day 9: Free day in Bologna & cooking class.

Day 10: Travel to Verona and Valpolicella wine tasting.

Day 11: Tour of Verona.

Day 12: Head home.

Two-day extension to Venice:
Day 13 & 14: You may choose to add a two-day extension to Venice before heading home. Additional costs will apply.

Please feel free to contact me for questions about any of our upcoming trips…Holly Trawick - 205-310-3189 or htrawick@wcfdn.org.