A man in a white shirt and black tie holding a tray of green dumplings in a kitchen.
A lively street market with vendors selling fresh produce and people walking along the narrow corridor under a partly cloudy sky.

Each year, Fennel travels abroad to explore food, wine, and culture, and you're invited. In 2026 we're headed to Italy twice, with small-group culinary trips to Abruzzo and Emilia-Romagna exploring the regional cuisines, local producers, and hidden gems that make each destination unique.

These aren't rigid tours or stressful, jam-packed itineraries. You'll have space to explore on your own, relax with a glass of wine, and soak it all in, while we take care of accommodations, on-the-ground transportation, and booking cooking classes, winery visits, and food experiences you can't find on your own.

What to Expect:

  • One week of curated food + wine experiences

  • Boutique hotel stay included

  • Daily breakfast, group aperitivo, and several family-style dinners

  • Cooking experiences, winery visits, and exclusive food-focused tours

  • Free time to explore or relax at your own pace

  • A small group of food-loving travelers

Whether you’re dreaming of a solo adventure, traveling with a partner, or coming with friends — this is the kind of trip you’ll want to plan ahead for.

Our trip to Bologna in September 2026 is SOLD OUT!

Join our trip to Abruzzo in July 2026 by signing up for our email list below! You’ll get an email with all of the trip details and registration information.

Travel, Taste, and Cook with Fennel in Italy – Summer & Fall 2026

Sign up here to get trip details sent to your inbox:

Two bottles of red wine labeled "San Lorenzo Vini Sirio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo" in a black ice bucket filled with ice, at an outdoor gathering with people sitting around.
Group of six people outdoors in a wooded area, smiling, holding black truffles, and pointing to them. One woman is holding a small black truffle and another woman points at them. Everyone appears happy and excited.
Outdoor dining setup with long wooden table, plates, and glasses, overlooking a vineyard under a clear blue sky.
A wooden pier leading to a small hut over the ocean, with clear blue water and sky, surrounded by grassy vegetation.
Man grilling skewered meat outside a restaurant called 'Ristoro Mucciante' on a cloudy day, with a group of people nearby, some taking photos or waiting.
Two bottles of wine and a small terracotta pitcher labeled 'ARRoSION' filled with wooden toothpicks sit on a wooden table outdoors with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people participating in a cooking class, rolling out dough with rolling pins on wooden boards in a kitchen with yellow walls, hanging lights, and kitchen appliances.
Two women standing outdoors on rocky terrain with mountains in the background, holding wine glasses and smiling.
A table with three Aperol Spritz cocktails, a white plate of sliced cantaloupe and prosciutto, and cutlery set on a white napkin, in an outdoor European cafe with old buildings and people in the background.
A beach scene with blue sky, a few scattered clouds, a calm ocean, sandy beach with numerous umbrellas and lounge chairs, palm trees, and a pool area with umbrellas.
Display case with various blocks of cheese in a cheese shop. Behind the case, a person in a blue shirt is working, with shelves and a refrigerator filled with drinks and food items in the background.
A man smiling and holding two bottles of Bellavista Indian Pale Lager at a table during an outdoor gathering under a large canopy. There are many people seated at tables in the background, and food and drinks on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Pretty much everything except flights! The trip fee covers hotel stay, all group activities, classes, and excursions, most meals (a few will be on your own), ground transportation, group travel coordination, and some fun extras.

    The price of each trip will vary year to year and will be posted when we have all the details sorted out for the next trip.

  • Fennel trips are open to any adults (ages 18+). You don’t need to live in Saint Louis, nor do you need to have taken a class at Fennel to join us.

    On past trips, we’ve had a mix of solo travelers, couples, friends, and parent/child duos. This is a GREAT way to travel with family and friends without having to do all of the trip planning, and it’s also a fantastic way to travel solo without having to be alone the whole time!

    Fennel trips are also perfect for you if you’re nervous about international travel; we’re there to help you out with trip preparation and you’ll be in a community of folks with varying levels of travel experience.

  • The itinerary changes with each new destination, but typically you can expect a nice mix of daily excursions and free time to explore. Our trips are food-focused and include activities like cooking classes, farmers market trips, multi-course dinners, winery tours, and more! We always offer activities that are authentic, off the beaten path, and truly unique to Fennel trips.

    Here’s what our 2025 Abruzzo, Italy itinerary looks like:

    • Day 1: group transfer from Rome airport to Abruzzo, welcome Aperitivo hour at the hotel

    • Day 2: free time during the morning to lounge on the beach (in a reserved beach chair!), then tour of a family-owned winery + al fresco dinner on the vineyard

    • Day 3: visit to the Trabocchi coast, tour of a scenic abbey followed by a waterfront 5 course seafood feast with local wine pairings, evening free to eat dinner on the beach

    • Day 4: exclusive truffle experience - truffle hunting with dogs followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of a local truffle festival and all-you-can eat truffle dish tasting

    • Day 5: day in the mountains, eating and cooking traditional lamb skewers at the famous Ristoro Mucciante

    • Day 6: free morning for beach lounging, then homemade pasta class at a family home in the countryside, followed by a tour of a local digestivo producer to learn about Italy’s traditional liqueurs

    • Day 7: group transportation back to Rome airport

  • Our ability to accommodate dietary restrictions on trips may change based on the destination, so please contact us if you have specific questions!

    In general, we can usually accommodate vegetarian travelers, but might have a harder time accommodating vegan and gluten-free travelers on all activities/excursions.

  • The group size changes based on our destination and activity capacities, but you can expect between 12-16 travelers to be alongside you.

  • We’d be delighted to host a food-focused group trip for you! This is a wonderful option for larger families, friend groups, professional organizations, etc. to travel together without having to put in the work of planning and coordinating activities. Get in touch with us and we can chat about options and details!

Group of 20 people outdoors on a sunny day, with ocean and city buildings in the background, dressed in summer clothing.