Gonzaga Wine Institute Italian Experience

May 24 - 28, 2026, Umbria Experience

Experience tastings, tours and learn from the Marchesi Antinori Family, Italy’s oldest and most prominent winemaking family and purveyors of the famous Tignanello wine, among many other prominent labels. We’ll visit Antinori property, Castello della Sala that is located in Umbria, a short distance from the Tuscan border, about 18 kilometers from the historic city of Orvieto. Castello della Sala, a magnificent medieval manor with 600 hectares (1482 acres) of land and 229 (566 acres) of which are planted with vineyards, is located halfway between the Paglia river and the summit of Monte Nibbio.

We will apply for (6) hours of CLE credit. An application is currently pending.

This itinerary may be subject to change.

Sunday, May 24: Meet at Gonzaga-in-Florence, Via Giorgio la Pira, 11/13, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy, campus and travel by private motor coach to Gargonza, a thirteenth-century fortified medieval village. Enjoy wine tasting, lunch, and a tour of Castle Dastello di Gargonza. Then, arrive at Altarocca Wine Resort by private motor coach to check in and enjoy some free time. A welcome reception and dinner will be held that evening.

Monday, May 25: Enjoy breakfast and the view at Altarocca Wine Resort! Those attending the CLE will meet in the conference room. Those not attending can enjoy the pool, schedule a massage, or simply relax. After enjoying a lunch together, we’ll depart Altarocca Wine Resort on a private motor coach, which will then take us to an Antinori-owned property, Castello Della Sala, for a wine tasting, a visit to the winery, and dinner. After dinner, we’ll leave by private motor coach to head back to Altarocca Wine Resort.

Tuesday, May 26: Enjoy breakfast and the view at Altarocca Wine Resort! Those attending the CLE will meet in the conference room. Those not attending can enjoy the pool, schedule a massage, or simply relax. After enjoying lunch together, we’ll depart Altarocca Wine Resort on a private motor coach to Orvieta. Upon arrival, a half-hour private guided tour, followed by free time for everyone to explore the city. We’ll then head to Cotarella Winery by private motor coach for wine tasting and dinner. After dinner, we’ll leave by private motor coach to head back to Altarocca Wine Resort.

Wednesday, May 27: Enjoy breakfast and the view at Altarocca Wine Resort! You can enjoy the pool, schedule a massage, or simply relax. After enjoying lunch together, the afternoon is yours to relax. Cooking lessons, Mountain bike tours (electric bikes), and other excursions are available for an additional cost. If you want to see more of Italy, a day trip to Assisi to explore St. Francis and St. Clare’s basilica, plus view the newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis’s tomb in the Sanctuary of the Spoliation at the Church of St. Mary Major, and enjoy free time to shop. Later that night, we’ll gather for a professional group photo and a special closing dinner.

Thursday, May 28: After breakfast, we’ll depart from Altarocca Wine Resort by private motor coach to Gonzaga-in-Florence and say our goodbyes.

The $3,000 deposit and an optional room upgrade, paid online, secures four nights of lodging (May 24 - 28) for one person or couple at Altarocca Wine Resort, our event hotel, and location for 6 hours of CLE (application pending). Experience tastings, tours, and learn from the Marchesi Antinori Family, Italy’s oldest and most prominent winemaking family and purveyors of the famous Tignanello wine, among many other prominent labels.

The final registration fee of $2,000 per person plus any add-on activities you’ve selected will be available on or about February 20, 2026, and payment is due online by March 20, 2026. The fee includes the cost of the Gonzaga Health Travel Abroad Insurance (required), group transportation to the event hotel from Florence and back, guided tours, wine tasting, meals, and an opening and closing reception.

The cost of airfare to and from Italy is not included. The excursion will leave Florence on May 24, 2026, and return to Florence on May 28, 2026. The cost of airfare and lodging in Florence is left to each participant's discretion, based on individual desires and travel needs.

Refunds of $1,800 of the $3,000 deposit will be honored by electronic or written cancellations received or post-dated on or before December 8, 2025, via email at guzmans@gonzaga.edu. Any portion of the deposit becomes nonrefundable after December 8, 2025.

If we cannot offer the trip due to prohibitions imposed by the U.S. or Italian government, all deposits and invoiced payments received by Gonzaga will be refunded.