Puglia food and wine tour 2027: Lecce to Matera with a small group
I'm taking a small group to Puglia in October 2027, and I'd love you to join us. This Puglia food and wine tour runs from Lecce to Matera, 14 to 22 October 2027, with local wineries and artisan producers along the way. It is a small group of no more than 14 guests, so you taste the best of Puglia at an easy pace.
Puglia food and wine tour at a glance
Dates: 14 to 22 October 2027 (9 days)
Route: Lecce to Matera, with the Salento coast and the Itria Valley in between
Group size: small, up to 14 guests
Price: €3,700 per person, twin share
Single supplement: €1,100
Bookings: handled directly by my DMC in Lecce, YLTOUR
Why I'm taking you to Puglia
Puglia is a paradise for food and wine lovers. It sits between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, and its cooking comes from cucina povera, the art of making the most of what the land gives you. Think orecchiette with turnip greens, or fave e cicoria, a fava bean purée with wild chicory. Simple ingredients, remarkable flavour.
The wines have come a long way too. The region's three native red grapes are Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia, and Salento is known as the home of Italian rosato.
I've designed this trip for travellers who want to experience Puglia through its flavours, landscapes and local traditions, with a relaxed pace and carefully chosen highlights.
Day by day: your Puglia itinerary
Part 1: Baroque Lecce and the Salento coast (days 1 to 4)
Day 1, 14 October: Welcome to Lecce. Arrive at Brindisi Airport for a private transfer to Lecce. After check-in, we gather for a relaxed welcome dinner in the old town with traditional local flavours.
Day 2, 15 October: Cooking in Puglia and Lecce. A hands-on cooking class with local hosts, then a private walking tour of Lecce and its Baroque architecture. Dinner is at leisure.
Day 3, 16 October: Otranto and Gallipoli. Two seaside towns on the Salento coast. In Otranto we explore the old town and see the celebrated Tree of Life mosaic, then we have lunch by the sea in Gallipoli. Back in Lecce, dinner is at your own pace.
Day 4, 17 October: Negroamaro wine country and a cheese farm. We visit a local winery and a family-run cheese farm, learn directly from the producers and taste fresh and aged cheeses. Then a light lunch by the sea before we return to Lecce.
Part 2: The Itria Valley, trulli and the Adriatic (days 5 to 7)
Day 5, 18 October: Ostuni, olive oil and Polignano a Mare. We visit a historic olive oil estate for a tasting among centuries-old trees, then a light lunch and guided time in whitewashed Ostuni. We finish in Polignano a Mare, where we check in at our second property.
Day 6, 19 October: Alberobello and Cisternino. Alberobello is famous for its trulli houses, and Cisternino is one of the region's most charming hilltop villages. We enjoy a traditional light lunch, and dinner is at leisure.
Day 7, 20 October: Coastal boat tour and Monopoli. A relaxed start with time to enjoy our property, then a coastal boat tour along the Adriatic shoreline with an aperitif on board. Later we wander Monopoli's old town of white alleys and harbour views.
Part 3: Matera and the Sassi (days 8 and 9)
Day 8, 21 October: Matera and the Sassi. A day in Basilicata exploring the ancient Sassi cave districts, with a private tour and a light lunch in the old town. The evening is at leisure.
Day 9, 22 October: Departure. A transfer to Bari or Brindisi Airport for your onward journey. Optional extension details and prices will follow.
Meals are listed with each day above. Property details are still to be confirmed.
What's included and what's not
Included
Accommodation
Transfers
Listed meals
Guided experiences
Tastings
Private touring as outlined
Not included
International flights
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Meals not listed
Optional extensions
Price and booking
The tour price is €3,700 per person, twin share. The single supplement is €1,100.
Bookings are handled directly by my DMC in Lecce, YLTOUR, who will give you the deposit details, the payment timetable and the accepted payment methods. Property details are still to be confirmed.
Who this Puglia tour suits
Couples and small groups who like to travel at an easy pace and want to taste a region properly, with local producers, rather than tick off sights.
How to enquire
Email me at bruce.white@wineandfoodtraveller.com and tell me who would be travelling. I'll send you the full itinerary and pricing, and I'm happy to answer any questions or hold a place for you.
Not ready yet? Pop your email into the newsletter sign-up form just below this post and you'll hear about this trip and the next ones first.
Cheers,
Bruce
