Frequently Asked Questions

Elliano Wine Journeys offers small-group, sommelier-led wine tours to the world’s great wine regions, including Burgundy, Mendoza and Piedmont. Each journey is led by founder Luciano Patiño, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Below are answers to the questions we hear most. For details on a specific trip, see its tour page.

About Our Tours

  • Our tours are for travelers who want to understand wine, not just drink it, and for the partners and friends who come along for the food, culture and scenery. Guests include couples, groups of friends and solo travelers, from working professionals to retirees. What they share is curiosity and an appreciation for doing things well.

  • Not at all. Our Signature Wine Tours are built for curious beginners and devoted enthusiasts alike. Each day is structured so that everything you taste builds on what came before, and you'll taste first and discuss after, so nobody gets lectured. Many of our most enthusiastic guests arrived knowing very little and left reading wine labels like professionals. Our Collector's Wine Tours are the exception: they're designed for serious collectors and go deeper, faster.

  • Every tour is limited. Our largest tours have a maximum of 12 guests. Small groups mean real conversations with winemakers, tables at restaurants that couldn't seat a bus tour, and a group that gets to know one another. Collector's Wine Tours are smaller still.

  • Our tours are moderately active. Expect to walk through vineyards and down stone cellar steps, sometimes on uneven or damp ground, and to be on your feet for parts of each day. There are no strenuous hikes, and there's plenty of time to sit, taste and linger. If you have mobility concerns, please tell us before you book and we'll talk through what to expect.

  • Never. Professionals taste and spit, and you're welcome to do the same. Spit cups are always available. Pace yourself however you like; there's no pressure to finish a glass.

Booking and Payment

  • A deposit of $1,500 per room secures your place, with the balance due 90 days before departure. Final payments are refundable until 90 days before the start of the trip. Because we book hotels, restaurants and private winery visits far in advance, we can't offer refunds. Full details are in our Terms and Conditions.

  • Yes, we strongly recommend it. A comprehensive policy that covers trip cancellation, medical care abroad and travel delays protects your investment if plans change. Buy it soon after booking, since some benefits only apply when a policy is purchased within a set window of your deposit.

  • Absolutely. Solo travelers join us regularly and are always welcomed into the group, from the first toast to the last dinner. A single supplement applies.

  • Every tour includes sommelier-led instruction, tastings, accommodation, ground transportation during the tour, breakfast and lunch daily, and selected dinners. Airfare is not included. Each tour page lists exactly what's included for that journey.

On the Journey

  • Yes. Please tell us about allergies, intolerances or dietary preferences when you book, and we'll share them with every restaurant and winery in advance. Some regional cuisines lean heavily on meat, dairy or gluten, and we'll work with our partners to make sure you eat beautifully.

  • Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are essential for vineyards and cellars. Bring layers, since cellars stay cool year-round, and smart casual clothes for dinners. Skip strong perfume or cologne on tasting days. Each tour page has packing notes for that region and season.

  • Yes, at many of the wineries we visit. Each tour page covers shipping and customs for that country.

Still Have Questions?

Send us a note. Luciano answers inquiries personally.