This trip is now open for 2027 interest and inquiry. Feel free to reach out! Space is limited.

Join Chef Paolo Laboa and his partner and Solo’s wine guy, Jesse Bania, on a brief tour of Paolo’s home region, Liguria, followed by the main event in Sardegna! The gorgeous coast overlooking the Ligurian Sea is where age-old cooking traditions were met with passion and inspiration to create much of Paolo’s unique culinary style. Meanwhile, flying together over the Tyrrhenian Sea will commence our visit to the Island of Sardegna. The beauty of Sardegna brought many conquerors and cultural influences to its shores over the centuries, and we look forward to exploring how this weaving evolution created a culinary tradition unlike anywhere else in Italy.

By joining us for this experience, you will share the best food and taste through a special variety of wines at local hidden gems and featured producers we work closely with while learning the stories that lie behind them all. If you have a love for Italian food and wine and an interest in learning as you travel, you are in for an amazing opportunity to do so! This trip will involve some lengthy driving on occasion (Sardegna is a big island) as well as time on a boat, visits to wineries and experience with local culinary specialties. There will also be time to rest and recuperate along the way.

YOUR CHEF & GUIDE:

Paolo Laboa’s love for the cucina started in his mother's kitchen, where he learned the secrets of real Genovese cooking. After many achievements and adventures, including winning the World Pesto Championship, Paolo has found his new home in Portland, ME. Here he and his wife Mercedes live with their two children and run Solo Italiano, a much-loved pillar of the farm to table tradition in Portland. Paolo is very excited to share his home country and region and its cultural culinary traditions with you on this special trip!

Jesse connected naturally with Paolo and the mission behind Solo Italiano on the day it opened its doors. He went on to become the wine director of one of Portland’s most exclusive and unique wine lists as well as Co-Owner and friendly face of the restaurant. He LOVES Italian wine and has built Solo’s program around the natural connection it has to food, origin and atmosphere. He has traveled extensively around the world. He will be your tasting buddy, translator and travel partner. Ask him any question you might have along the way; he will be your pocket guide.

ROUGH TIMELINE:

Thursday 6/3/27 - Tuesday 6/8/27:
Arrive to your accommodations in Alghero. We will base and explore from here for 5 nights/days before we head south to finish the trip. (You can fly into both Olbia and Alghero, but explore your options as flights are limited usually to particular days each week. This may require you to arrive early.)

Tuesday 6/8/27:
Depart our accommodations for Cardedu or Carloforte in the South. We will spend our sixth night nearby.

Wednesday, 6/9/27:
We will continue on to our final destination (Cagliari) and spend our seventh night together here. You will organize your departure flight thus from this airport.

FINAL ITINERARY WILL BE PROVIDED IN HAND WHEN WE FIRST MEET. AN INITIAL DETAILED ROUGH ITINERARY WILL BE EMAILED AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FINAL FLIGHT BOOKINGS AND ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE PLANS.

PRICE:
$7,250 per person double occupancy room
$8,250 per person single occupancy room

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
7 nights accommodation including taxes
9 shared meals per itinerary (incl. gratuities)
Continental breakfasts as offered by accommodations
All scheduled wine tastings
All transportation per itinerary
All additional sightseeing/admissions per itinerary

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare or travel to and from Italy and our initial/final meeting/departure locations. There will be some free time built into the schedule for relaxation or personal exploration. All meals and activities therein are the responsibility of the guest(s).

CONDITIONS:
Trip guaranteed departure is based on 10 paid attendees. Our group size will be 16 persons max, including Jesse, Paolo and any Solo staff.
*Travelers must be at least 21 years of age.

RESERVATIONS:
To secure your spot(s) on the trip please fill out the form below and submit your deposit of $2,500 per person.

Payments can be made by check or major credit card. Credit cards will be subject to a 3.0% processing fee.

CANCELLATIONS:
If you must cancel your trip reservation with us before 1/1/2027 you will receive a full refund of your deposit minus a $1,000 cancellation fee. After 1/1/2027, your deposit will be nonrefundable. Once the final balance is paid, it will also be nonrefundable. Final balance will be due 4/1/27.

Please consider taking travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. For insurance information please visit InsureMyTrip. Your credit card company may also offer trip protection for such a purchase automatically, as another option to explore. In the event that our boarders close anew or other federal restrictions stop us from traveling, we will work with participants where insurance/trip protection doesn’t cover deposits and final balance payments.

TRAVEL NOTES:

In addition to purchasing travel insurance, we also recommend packing light to the extent that you are comfortable. You may be staying overnight in different towns throughout the week. Having that personal item be a day bag is also helpful for your daily adventures.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Solo Italiano and Paolo & Jesse Bania accept no responsibility for any delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, damage, or injury to person or property. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and substitute arrangements of any equal value, if circumstances warrant change.