Bluone - Food and Wine Tours in Italy

Bluone - Food and Wine Tours in Italy

Bluone - Food and Wine Tours in Italy
5
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Bluone is a family company based in Bologna. Since 1995 we have organized food and wine tours in Italy: We will take and guide you personally to Emilia Romagna, Umbria, Le Marche, Piemonte, Prosecco area, Puglia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia to taste the best local wines and the mouthwatering delicatessen in each region.
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Traveler138KR
Seattle, WA33 contributions
Sep 2022
Another outstanding tour with Bluone!. This was our fourth tour with them. Marcello and Raffa never disappoint. This time, we brought friends along and joined another couple who we had met on a previous Bluone tour. This was the Friuli tour and it was magical. We are all serious wine fans and this tour was off the charts. There were several cases of wine purchased and shipped back to the US. Even with shipping, the total price was favorable given the extreme value of the excellent wines produced in this region. The small towns were not only historical, but beautiful and Udine is incredible. Marcello takes pride in selecting the best hotels, local tour guides, restaurants and wineries. If you are a seasoned Italy visitor, don't hesitate to go. If its your fist time in Italy, this will spoil you forever! Thanks Bluone.
Written December 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michelle
Canton of Zug, Switzerland17 contributions
Jul 2021
As a kick-off to traveling again, we had a short stay in the region of three nights. Bluone arranged a fabulous three-day agenda for wine tasting in two very diverse wineries, a great tour of parmigiano reggiano making and tasting, balsamic making and tasting, lunches, dinners, and a few other fun surprises. Bluone is, by far, the best tour experience for Italy - always perfecting the experiences of the traditional foods, wines, and local customs for guests.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eli B
Sydney, Australia3,697 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
We had criterias,we had a shortage of time and we wanted the very best,erudite and conversant with this exciting town. The fates threw Bluone into our path, and as such,it was our gain.
Few Italian cities still live in their main squares as intensely as Bologna does. Since the 13th century,the Piazza Maggiore has served as the city's social,administrative,political and commercial heart.
From morning to night,the sounds of Bologna overlap and merge in the square. Mornings bring the soft prayers of the devout in the Basilica of San Petronio at early mass,the clamour of nearby food market and shuffle of briefcase-carrying civil servants on their way to the Palazzo d'Accusio,the original part of Bolognia's immense city hall,the Palazzo Communal.

As the day progresses,the shouts of schoolchildren become the playground where passers-by duck flying soccer balls. Around sunset,the square fills with clusters of older Bolognesi - mostly men animatedly discussing the latest soccer match,and cafe-lounging people-watchers savouring aperitifs at tables infront of the Palazzo del Podesta. At night,students from the university,one of the oldest in the western world - gather for concerts,streets performances or just hang.

Over the centuries,the Piazza Maggiore has reflected the changing city. Bolognia has many nicknames. Its known as "la grassa" (the fat) for its love of food and physical pleasures. It is known as "la rossa" (the red),not because of political persuation,but because of the distinctive russet red brick that has shaped much of its architecture. It is also known as "la dotta" (the learned) because of its university.

Bologna is a young person's city,well stocked with bookshops and funky clubs,to the enormous outdoor market that takes over the central Via dell'Independenza every Friday and Saturday. The enormous central hall of the city library has retained its 19th century look,ringed by arcades on three levels. If you ask a local to meet you somewhere downtown,they are likely to suggest the enormous 16th century Fountain of Neptune, just outside the front door of the Sala Borsa.

Certainly,the gigantic bronze sculpture of the god of the sea by the Flemish sculpture Gianbologna is hard to miss and there are steps to sit on should they be late. The statue is the symbol of the city,as are two imposing early 12th century towers in the nearby Piazza di Porta Ravegnana,the garisenda and Asinelli. The former leans,at an ominous,Pisa-like angle,but unlike the one in Pisa,their stability does not seem in question. To think 100 towers peppered the Bolognai skyline,800 years ago,like so many clunky red-brick reeds grazing skyward. but its Asinelli,at 318 ft,the tallest remaining one,can be climbed - rickety,well-worn wooden steps - for a spectacular view of the city.

The Palazzo d'Accuisio is one of the largest complexes in Italy almost a small city within the city. Its impressive municipal art collection on the 2nd floor,paintings,sculptures and furniture are arranged to suggest an 18th century private mansion. Birdsongs from the piazza complete the fantasy.

On the Piazza Maggiore,is a 15th century masterpiece called the San Petronios. Its massive facade belies that the largest church in the world,the interior of which carries the coats of arms of cardinal legates,rectors,priors and students artfully arranged in frescoed commemorative memorials covering the intricately carved wood ceiling are astrological figures.

For a city not particularly endowed with rain,Bologna is well endowed with arcades. there are an astonishing 23.6 km of these "portici",toll passageways that originated in the Middle Ages as do-it-yourself home-expansion projects to house students pouring into the city. the longest is the Portico di San Luca whose 666 arches extend nearly 3.5 km.

The portico that flanks the Archiginnasio is a mere 456 ft long,so the walk is not too strenuous. Still its nice to know that at its end,one can stop at fashionable bar that has not renouncedits 1050's feel. Bustling at the hour of the apertife,a Bologna'ese tradition,the bar offers snaks of quail eggs,cheese puffs,sun-dried tomatoes and canapes filled with shrimp and spinach.
They don't call Bologna "la grassa" for nothing. One of its principal attraction is food,and the city is renowned for delicate meat-filled tortellini,plumper,ricotta-filled tortelloni: passateli(pasta made with bread crumbs,eggs,parmesan and mortadella,the scrumptous sausage that bears little resemblance to baloney.

Behind the 16th century Palazzo dei Banchi,dominating the eastern end of the Piazza Maggiore,is a picturesque cluster of narrow streets,packed with opulent small shops bursting with a fantastic array of fruit and veggies,cheeses and cured meats. You have to fight for walking space,but a stroll through the market's fresh produce is key to understanding why the Bolognesi eat so well. Tucked inside the market - and eerily silent compared with the cacophony outside - is the recently restored church of santa Maria della Vita. In a dimly lighted chapel on the right is one of Balogna's greatest art works,a 15th century life-size terra-cotta group culture,"Lamentation over the Dead Christ" by Niccolo dell'Arca - one of the most touching and horrifying depiction of raw grief imaginable.
Written April 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emily G
De Pere, WI1 contribution
Sep 2013 • Couples
We cannot express how happy and satisfied we were of our Bluone- 12 Hours in Bologna tour. Raffaella, Marcello and their children were wonderful. We spent 16 days in Italy and this was definitely the main highlight for us! We learned so much about the food, people and culture of the Emilia Romagna Region. The dinner was amazing!! If and when we return this stop will be a priority. Grazie Tori Family. P.s. We stayed at Casatori (their property) which was also above any expectation and a wonderful experience, as well.)
Written October 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JC-912
Boston, MA48 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
I just returned from a week in Puglia with Marcello and his daughter, Francesca. We began in Bari, an interesting seaside city that is both modern & upscale as well as historical. The Petrocelli Theater there is magnificent. We continued on to the Alberobello region where Trulli style buildings, white washed with conical, stone roofs dominate. It is a UNESCO Heritage site and well worth the honor. Along the way we ate wonderful meals in places Italians go, with wines aplenty. We visited wineries, a cheese making facility, a fabulous bakery whose products I am still enjoying, trying to spread out the pleasure. We visited Matera, an area of cave homes and another UNESCO site. One side of the valley is preserved as it was, and the other has been developed into restaurants, bars, businesses built above and around the caves. We continued on to Lecce where most of the architecture is Baroque. There are also some Roman ruins, fabulous churches, and modern shopping. It, too is a UNESCO site. We had a cooking lesson at the home of a well known cook and teacher who was featured in the Sunday NYTimes just a week before our trip. The hotels were lovely, the food was great, and, most of all, our host and hostess were caring, knowledgeable and delightful. We were a group of seven, and four of us had traveled with Bluone on previous trips.
Written May 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JoshuaNY
Syracuse, NY28 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
Brief Summary: Wonderful... do this! If you like the more detailed reviews, read on...

My wife and I did the Bluone food tour on 7/25. We left from Cinque Terre (Monterosso) on the 4:56AM train (yes a bit too early, but there will be time for sleeping later), and made it to our hotel (Hotel Porta San Mamalo) around 9:45. We had enough time to check in, drop off our backpacks, and walk to the two towers, just past the square, where Raffaella was there waiting for us under the statue as promised. She walked with us to a shop where we met up with one other lady, Ashley, who was from Australia. She gave us the history of parmigiano reggiano and spoke about some of the other local food they had on display. We walked to the nearby cafe where we sat outside having water, tea, espresso, etc. and planning out our meal for the day. Ashley had mentioned earlier how much she liked lasagna, so that became the main meal. My wife loves tiramisu, so that was planned for dessert. We also discussed some options for appetizer and side dishes. After agreeing on the menu and talking for a while, we walked through the markets together where she started buying some of the ingredients for our meal. We got a couple small snacks (grapes at the market and meats at the butcher) while we were walking around. She then let us on our own for a couple of hours so we could explore Bologna while she acquired the rest of the ingredients we would need.

We met up at 3:30 at Ashley's hotel where Raffaella's husband Marcello picked us up in his car and drove us back to their charming home. It's one thing to be shown around someone’s town, but a very different experience being invited into someone's home, where you see how they live, meet their family (their son Tomaso was there), and really feel like a true guest. From a relatively small kitchen, with a relatively small refrigerator and small number of ingredients (all by US standards), we spent hours preparing our entire meal from scratch. We made ragu for the lasagna with fresh vegetables from the market and pancetta from the butcher. We made tiramisu from scratch. We cut vegetables, made our own pasta, and rolled our own dough. Often times people who speak English as their non-native language don't really understand joking and sarcasm, but Raffaella certainly did. As the one male in the group, I was pegged as the one to have the lowest expectations for, and joked with as being the lazy one who would sit in the family room waiting for when the meal was ready. I would like to say I proved this assumption wrong, but I suppose I should leave it up to other people to decide that. It became a running joke to blame me for anything that went wrong, from spilling flour on the floor while rolling pasta, to SOMEONE adding a bit too much pepper to the bĆ©chamel sauce (I won't name names). It felt like you were joking around with your friends at home.

As we waited for our pasta dough to settle, we had an appetizer we prepared along with some sparkling wine on their balcony. We then finished all our food preparations, and around 9:15 sat down to dinner at their table. They first brought out an assortment of salamis and hams with bread while they finished things in the kitchen, along with two bottles of wine. We moved on to the lasagna, followed by meat rolls stuffed with mortadella, parmigiano reggiano, and sage that were sautƩed, as well as a concoction of tomato, onion, zucchini, and a type of eggplant that I had never seen before. We enjoyed dinner over a couple of hours, along with several bottles of wine and good conversation. Dessert was the tiramisu which had set nicely, as well as a home-made digestif. After I taught them the definition, of "I hate to eat and run", Marcello brought us back to the hotel around 11:30pm.

In summary, both Raffaella and Marcello were incredibly friendly, warm, and inviting. While I can't say I will normally invest 13 hours into a meal once I return home, I definitely learned some new dishes and techniques that I will utilize, and share with my family and friends. There is a reason this tour is rated so highly, and I would say it is definitely worth the price you pay. Grazie Raffaella y Marcello por un tiempo maravilloso!
Written July 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thrawn_21
New York City, NY5 contributions
Wow, what can we say about Bluone? My girlfriend and I spent two full days with Marcello (and his son), even though we were only schedule for half day tours (one of which was on NYE day and they chose to spend it with us!) and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. At the end of the second day he asked if we had some more time because he really wanted to show us another city - that was completely unnecessary since we already had a great time but we appreciated it so much. We truly felt after our tours that we had made a lasting friend, one that we are sure we'll see again. Once Marcello found out that we are true foodies (I'm actually in the process of opening a restaurant) we discovered a real connection because if there is one thing Italians love, it's food. And the tours themselves are incredible - no big bus, touristy, megaphone visits for us - instead we had private visits with cheese and balsamic producers and an incredible truffle hunt/lunch with a lovely farmer and his entire family. On a scale of 1 to 5, Bluone deserves a 10.
Written January 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

j68ky
Kentucky457 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
We returned to Bologna for a second visit just to take a cooking lesson and learn to make pasta. After reading the reviews we chose Bluone...and were not disappointed. Raffaella, Francesca and Marcello created a very special day for us. In the morning, we toured the food markets with Raffaella and learned the history of the local specialties, while tasting samples from several shops. At Eataly we sat outside with our espressos and planned the evening's menu. Then, after lunch, we took the short walk to their home and began the preparation for the meal. A lively soccer game was being watched in the living area and it made for a homey atmosphere. It was fantastic to have such a hands-on experience with such warm and knowledgeable people. Francesca was so patient as we learned to roll the pasta and and make the traditional shapes, we had seen in the shop windows. The Ragu alla Bolognese sauce made under the watchful eye of Raffaella was delicioso! Other Italian delicacies were prepared as well. The shared meal around their table ended with homemade liquors and lively conversation. As the hour grew late, Marcello chaffeured us back to our hotel leaving us with warm thoughts of an Italian meal we will never forget! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this cooking experience!
Written November 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anthony
Gilford, NH38 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
Always nice when an experience exceeds your expectations. Beginning with Bluone's selection of Hotel Duchi Della Rovere in Senigallia, Bluone's founder Marcello and his daughter Francesca were fantastic. Marcello's knowledge and contacts with local food artesians made the Mouthwatering Tastes Le Marche Tour truly unique. We were welcomed into homes, wineries, bakeries, trattorias as if we were family. Francesca was a delight. She kept us well inforrned and did most of the translating. She was great making sure we didn't miss anything in the explanations offered to us about wine and EVO Oils we were sampling. Our hands on food preparation along with actually selecting fish and vegetables with the chefs made Bluone's Le Marche Tour memorable. Each day was different and each day kept us stimulated and directly engaged. My favorite was the truffle hunting morning with Giorgio, which was followed by lunch at Hosteria Dal Vigno, where Giorgio's friend served us a delicious meal topped with the truffles sourced that morning. A few weeks later Francesca emailed us the recipes from each of our events. That required lots of time and effort......thank you Francesca. I plan to join Bluone again in the future to experience a different area of Italy.
Written December 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FancyNancy905
San Francisco, California, United States6 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
When you spend days and weeks and hours researching and deciding on places and activities for a trip - especially in another country - even with the best of reviews, (of course I am an avid TripAdvisor user) you really don't know exactly how it will be but there is the hope and anticipation of something special. Deciding to spend three days on a private food and wine tour with Marcello Tori and being hosted in his home with his wife Raffaella was like that. We chatted a bit via email to confirm our itinerary. We checked into our Bologna hotel and within a half hour, Marcello was there to take us to his home where we met Raffaella and their son Tommasso. A beautiful apartment overlooking the roofs of Bologna, at sunset on a lovely balcony where she began a four-course dinner by serving us fried zucchini blossoms and delicious local wine but those simple words can't describe the experience. No words can. All I can say is from now on it is all different - there is no coming back from the experience with Marcello and Raffaella - learning what we did was experiential - the love of the country, the food the time we spent & how we did. We wouldn't change a thing but know we have to change how we do life now - the experience has changed us.
Written September 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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