EDU Wine Tours

Wine Tour to North Adriatic Wine Regions

March 23 to 28, 2026

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Join Bob Madill and Pascal Durand and for six days explore the wine regions of the North Adriatic including Friuli-Venezia Giulia in NE Italy, and parts of Slovenia and Croatia.  This is a fascinating region of historical crossroads, a ‘Mitteleuropean-Mediterranean’ hybrid.

 

According to Paul Balke, the North Adriatic wine growing regions encompass Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Colio Orientali, Collio, Friuli Grave, Isonzo, Aquileia); Primoraska in western Slovenia (Gorska Brda, Vipava Valley, Karst, Slovenska Isra) and Isteria and Kvarner in northwest Croatia.

 

These areas are linked by geography, culture and history.  They share the influences of the Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  In essence, the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WWII brought regional divergence within the borders of Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.

 

While the architecture may show its Austro-Hungarian roots, the lifestyle tends towards Mediterranean with outdoor cafés and evening walks.

 

The wine regions of the North Adriatic each have specific grape varieties both vinifera and indigenous, yet there are many varieties grown in several regions.  White varieties include Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Malvasia, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc.  Red varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Refosco, Terran and Schioppettino.  We will also encounter orange, sparkling and dessert wines.

 

Our tour will start on Monday March 23, 2025, at the Venice Marco Polo Airport. From March 23 to 28, 2026 we will spend six days exploring the winegrowing terroirs and experiencing the cultures and cuisine of the North Adriatic.  We'll meet with producers visiting vineyards and cellars.  The tour will return to Marco Polo on the last day.

 

The tour includes:​​​

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• Accommodation (single or shared) for six nights.​​

• Visits to eight to ten  producers with tours of vineyards and cellars and expert tastings.​

• Regional cuisine includes six breakfasts, six lunches and dinners with wine.​

• Transportation by nine passenger van or equivalent.

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​Tour guests should plan to arrive by March 22, 2026 for our morning departure on Monday March 26, 2026.  Of course the tour provides a wonderful opportunity to visit Venice either before or afterwards.​