Modena Food Valley tour: Parmigiano, Lambrusco and balsamic lunch

Castelvetro vineyards and Modena dairies instead of the tourist circuit

A 4.5-hour food tour near Modena takes you to small family producers in the Emilia-Romagna countryside to watch Parmigiano Reggiano age in wooden rooms, taste Lambrusco wine where it grows, learn the balsamic vinegar tradition, and eat a countryside lunch with local dishes and wine. The tour runs in English or Italian with a live guide and stays small and intimate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Modena Food Valley specialties

• Visit Parmigiano Reggiano dairy
• Taste different ages of Parmigiano Reggiano
• Visit family-run Lambrusco winery
• Taste Lambrusco wines
• Learn traditional balsamic vinegar aging
• Enjoy countryside lunch with local dishes

The experience

Modena sits at the center of Italy's Food Valley, and this tour skips the large commercial operations to take you into the working dairies and wineries that have been making these products for centuries. You'll walk through the aging rooms of a traditional Parmigiano Reggiano dairy where thousands of wheels mature on wooden shelves, taste cheeses at different stages, and see exactly how the milk becomes the hard, granular cheese that travels the world. The dairy visit includes fresh ricotta and aged Parmigiano tasting.

From there you move into the Lambrusco hills to a family-run winery surrounded by vineyards. The producer walks you through how the wine is made and you taste it directly in the vineyard, paired with water and coffee. Next comes the balsamic vinegar producer, where you'll see the barrels stacked in aging rooms and learn the difference between what's labeled balsamic and the authentic Modena tradition that takes years to develop. The whole sequence moves at a pace that lets you absorb each place instead of rushing through a checklist.

Lunch happens in a countryside setting with traditional Emilian dishes: gnocco fritto with cured meats, handmade tortelloni with ricotta and spinach, homemade dessert, and Lambrusco wine throughout. Bottled water and coffee round out the meal. The guide speaks English or Italian, and the group stays small enough that you're not competing for attention or space in the aging rooms.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• Lambrusco wine during the tasting and lunch, plus water and coffee.
• fresh ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano tasting at the dairy.
• traditional countryside lunch with gnocco fritto and cured meats, handmade tortelloni with ricotta and spinach, homemade dessert, Lambrusco wine, water and coffee.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Alyandiamo

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups who want to spend a morning and early afternoon with a guide moving between three working producers, rather than driving independently or joining a large bus group. The 4.5-hour pace lets you linger in each place without feeling rushed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What exactly do I taste at the Parmigiano Reggiano dairy?

The dairy visit includes fresh ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano at different ages, so you taste how the cheese changes as it matures in the wooden aging rooms.

Is Lambrusco wine included, or do I pay extra for tastings?

Lambrusco wine is included during both the winery tasting and the countryside lunch, along with water and coffee throughout the day.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 4.5 hours from start to finish, including all three producer visits and the lunch.

Can I arrange private transportation to get there?

Private transportation can be arranged for an additional cost if you need it. Ask when you book.

What's the difference between the balsamic vinegar I buy at home and what I'll see here?

Traditional Modena balsamic vinegar ages for years in wooden barrels following centuries-old methods, which is very different from the industrial balsamic sold in most stores. The producer explains the process and the time involved.