New Year…New Lands to Explore

In celestial terms, this coming September 23 will be an important date: the autumnal equinox, when day and night are of equal length, commencing the Northern Hemisphere’s astronomical start of fall.

That date will also mark a strictly terrestrial special occasion: the start of Gastronomique Tours’ first trip beyond the borders of France's wine country for a nine-day-long jaunt to the sun-drenched hills of Italy’s Tuscany region with its rich blend of art, history, cuisine, culture, and of course, its vineyards, vintages, and winemaking process.

For 11 years, Marco-based Gastronomique founders Denis and Lisa Meurgue have planned, organized, and led largely all-inclusive, group excursions to France’s wine regions, enabling clients to experience first-hand the elements that have brought international renown to such districts as Champagne-Alsace, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Provence, and Avignon.

The trips have proven popular, usually attracting the tour maximum of 30 travelers, with repeat clients a common occurrence.

In fact, the shift eastward and across the border to Italy for the upcoming jaunt, Gastronomique’s 12th, was prompted by input from past participants.

“People who have come with us before were asking about going to Italy and we chose Tuscany because of their wine,” said Lisa Meurgue.

She and her husband, a chef and French wine country native, began the tours as an outgrowth of their restaurant, Bistro Soleil. The Old Marco landmark closed in 2023 after the building where it was located was declared structurally unsound and not viable for repairs.

Tuscany is considered to be the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The region is famous for its picturesque scenery, culinary excellence, world-class wines like Chianti Classico, olive oil, historic cities such as Florence, Pisa, and Siena, and its rich Etruscan, Roman, and Medici heritage.

“Before Denis and I decided we were going to go to Tuscany, we went there last summer to conduct research. You know, Tuscany is beautiful with its rolling hills and when we went on our investigative tour, we just kind of fell in love with the area, as well,” she added. “And as I said, a lot of good Italian wines are from that region, so that's why we decided to go there.”

Among the 2026 itinerary highlights are:

Wine tastings and introductions to the wine-making process by local vintners

A guided visit of the medieval city of Siena, the Renaissance urbanism of the hilltop village of Pienza, famous for its countryside views and world-renowned pecorino cheese.

A cooking class at Borgo San Luigi

A visit to Montalcino, famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine made from Sangiovese grapes.

A visit to the Brunello di Montalcino museum and guided tour of The Uffizi Gallery, a major art museum renowned for its collection of Italian Renaissance Art, including Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and paintings by Caravaggio, da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

Guided visits to Volterra, an ancient town known for its rich history spanning from the Etruscan era to the medieval period, and San Gimignano, famous for its medieval towers and its white wine.

A visit to the covered Florence food market.

Interest in the tour has been strong, with only two open spots remaining at press time. Of the 26 reservations, 15 of them are from people who’ve toured with the Meurgues in the past.

Additional trips to Italy and other wine-producing countries are likely, said Lisa Meurgue.

“You know, it’s kind of like with a restaurant, where people have different preferences or want to do something else,” she said, “You try and satisfy what they're looking for. And because we have 15 people on the 2026 trip that have come with us before, we want to keep trying to offer them something new.”

Pat and Lisa Campbell intend to be among future repeat Gastronomique travelers, although they won’t be among those touring Tuscany, having traveled there several times before. However, the Marco residents were thoroughly impressed by their experience on their first trip with the Meurgues, which was the 2025 journey to the Champagne – Alsace region.

“They're experts. We weren't,” said Lisa Campbell in explaining their initial reasons for joining the tour. “We don't speak French, and we knew we wanted to have a great experience, and that with their experience and their company, it would be the best way to go. So, we jumped in. It was every single detail from what restaurant, tipping, the bus service, you know, all the details. All we had to do was show up. And it was exactly what we wanted for a place that was completely foreign to us. They already knew all the hot spots, with their experience and background in France. It just seemed like the right way to go.”

Among the highlights of the 2025 trip were:

Private tour of the cellars of Taittinger followed by a champagne tasting, as well as a demonstration of champagne production.

Visit to chocolate maker, Thibau, and the private cellars of the Le Clos Corbier Champagne House, Moët and Chandon, followed by dinner on the premises.

Stop in the Lorraine region, including Denis Meurgue’s historic hometown of Pont-a-Mousson and lunch at the Five-Star L’Esquisse Hotel and Spa, Colmar.

Cooking class with Michelin Star Chef Patrick Fulgraff.

Jaunt to the village of Riquewihr, known for its Renaissance architecture and Riesling wine.

“Fabulous” was the adjective Pat Campbell chose to describe the tour.

“What I enjoyed most was the fact that we were able to experience so many different parts of France, be it the geography, be it the champagne houses, be it the food and the restaurants, and the different locales, with the benefit of having hosts that speak fluent French,” he said. “They were so knowledgeable. We had an incredible trip because of that. The champagne houses were amazing. The restaurants were amazing. The experiences of being in the different villages in the Champagne region, the history of some of the American cemeteries from World War I, all just made it amazing.”

For more information about Gastronomique Tours, please visit gastronomiquetours.com/.