Epicopia

Passionate chefs. Vintage wines. Fresh, exotic, traditional foods. Share “Europe’s great undiscovered culinary destination” in this tour of Northern Spain. Discover a new cuisine!

Passionate chefs. Vintage wines. Fresh, exotic, traditional foods. Share “Europe’s great undiscovered culinary destination” in this tour of Northern Spain. Discover a new cuisine!

We meet in Bilbao, then travel the short distance to the picturesque town of Laguardia. From this scenic base, we visit the Rioja Wine Museum in Haro, lunch in a wood-beamed 17th-century wine bodega, visit a private bodega for sampling, and visit the newly constructed Bodega of Marques de Riscal designed by Frank Gehry.

Portugal -- a country of contrasts you will experience on this journey. We begin in Porto. First settled by Roman traders, Porto flourished during the era of maritime exploration. Guimarães, the birthplace of this nation, served as home to royalty. During our visit to these cities, we walk the gorgeous Praça de Liberdade to the São Bento Train Station, tour the Bolsa stock exchange, enjoy mouthwatering cuisine by the Douro River, and take part in the pleasures of sipping ports in one of the famous lodges.

Unforgettable food and wine draw us to Spain’s scenic northwest land of the Celts.

Our tour begins in Vigo with an overnight stay at the reformed Monastery of San Clodio. We head to Lansbriga, before being introduced to Ribeiro wine by a local wine maker. We also visit Ribadavia, part of the world heritage of wine lands.

Next, we journey to the unique Ribeira Sacra. We learn about this area’s wine before enjoying our lunch. Exploring Monforte, the capital of the Ribeira Sacra, gives us a magnificent view of the valley of Lemos from the protective fortifications.

Next, we move to A Coruña, stopping at Lugo, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After a walking tour of the Modernist part of the city, we dine on some of the best seafood in Spain.

Immerse yourself in the delights of Umbria. This two-week program is a little different from other programs in that we stay in Montefalco the entire time. We visit Spoleto, Perugia, Gubbio, Assisi and Orvieto; exploring smaller towns and villages including Bevagna, Norcia, Spello, Trevi, Todi and Deruta on day trips.

The Umbrian region produces some of the finest natural produce in Italy, and you can experience the flavors in cooking classes based on a variety of recipes rooted in ancient traditions.

Wander your way through Italy's idyllic countryside, hiking on ancient footpaths, sampling its finest food and wine along with its rural pace and way of life.

The landscape of neighboring Tuscany and Umbria is soul-stirring, with its sweeping vistas of vineyard-cloaked hills and stately cypress trees ringing storied hill towns. The scenery is rich in natural beauty, and reminiscent of early civilizations. Distinguished by its fascinating history, the region is noted for its unique culture and architecture.

We are working on a very special program for 2011!  Stay tuned for this unique Cheese focused experience and study program!

Epicopia along with partner African Relish are proud to announce a brand new tourism and vacation venture that explores South Africa’s colorful culinary heritage, at the gateway to the Great Karoo.