Why Travel With Shelley?

Shelley Wiseman, Former Food Editor at Gourmet Magazine, has been traveling all her life and there is nothing she enjoys more than food and travel! “Learning cooking techniques in their place of origin gives you context way beyond the dish itself,” she believes. Shelley, a native of New York City, also grew up in Mexico and Brazil. Her career has taken her from Paris (6 years) and back to her beloved Mexico (9 years) where she opened a French cooking school (Ecole de Cuisine La Place) in Mexico City, to Gourmet Magazine in New York, where culinary trips around the world were a perk of the job. As her own trips have grown, she has partnered with like minded, seasoned organizers and leaders in different locations of interest to ensure participants get a very personal tour. Click here to learn more about Shelley’s travel and culinary experience.

UMBRIA FOOD & WINE TOUR - May 31st - June 8th, 2024. SOLD OUT!

Join Shelley on this small group, exclusive tour to Umbria, Tuscany’s lesser known neighbor, led by Susan Guerra, a wine professional and the owner of Via Del Vino Food and Wine Tours. Susan, who lives in Umbria, will show you the sights that only the locals know and give you a peek into daily life in this beautiful region of Italy. Stay at a 5-Star hotel in the historic center of Perugia, Susan’s adopted hometown. First founded by the Etruscans, Perugia is a beautifully preserved, medieval city where you’ll have shops, museums, cafes, restaurants and Etruscan ruins right at your door. You’ll mingle with locals as you discover this enchanting region that’s remained little changed by the centuries and is far from the usual tourist crowds. Our week in Umbria will feature a selection of food and wine activities including cooking classes, wine tastings, an artisan chocolate experience, truffle hunting with a local family, Perugia’s top-rated food tour plus sightseeing and free time to meander in several of Umbria’s most iconic, and beautiful hill towns.

See our 2024 Umbria itinerary here.

THE FOOD AND CULTURE OF THE LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE ~ May 21-29, 2025

Our September 2023 trip was a huge success, so we can’t wait to get back and do it again. Our charming host Coral (Coco), will host us at her manor house, La Couture, with 8 lovely rooms with ensuite bathrooms, and take us around to see beautiful chateaux and lovely gardens, especially Chateau du Villandry! We will also visit a goat cheese farm, a winery famous for it’s Cremant (sparkling wine), and tour markets, including a weekly flea/antique market. We will have cooking lessons at La Couture with Coral’s mother, Lesley Miles, an artist and accomplished cook of French Cuisine, as well as one with Shelley, and one with a notable chef with a fish restaurant where we will go out on the river to collect the catch of the day. While the days are full, the pace is relaxing, and there is even time to take afternoon swims in the pool at La Couture or sit in their gardens or rest in your room.

See our 2025 itinerary here.

PUGLIA, ITALY ~

May 7th - May 15th, 2025 (Sold Out)

(NEW)May 30th - June 7th, 2025

Surrounded on all sides by crystal-clear seas, Puglia is a unique combination of ancient history, beautiful craftsmanship, and welcoming locals who love to feed you! On this trip we’ll also spend time in Matera (Basilicata), one of the oldest cities in the world, where we’ll stay in a cave hotel and learn this city’s unbelievable story of triumph against all odds. Our tour will be led by Shelley Wiseman and Susan Guerra, a wine professional and the owner of Via Del Vino Food and Wine Tours. Susan, who lives in Italy, has family ties to Puglia and will introduce you to the locals she knows for a peek into daily life in this magical region of Italy.

Our itinerary takes us from the Itria Valley, the land of the mysterious Trulli houses to the sun-kissed Salento and includes a selection of Puglian food and wine tastings, cooking classes, sightseeing, artisan workshop visits, plus free time to wander on your own or relax by the pool. 

See our May 7th itinerary here.

OAXACA, MEXICO~ February 2025

Considered one of the richest regional cuisines of Mexico, Oaxaca boasts seven moles, has its own unique chiles, grinds its own chocolate, and makes a unique cheese. While we will explore all of these things, Oaxaca also has a vibrant international art scene, including Zapotec native Fransisco Toledo and other Mexican and foreign artists. It is also incredibly rich in traditional arts and crafts. We will visit artists’ studios and explore some of the local crafts. Our days will start with a lovely breakfast at your hotel, morning visits in town and in the countryside, including colorful markets, and several afternoon cooking classes with Kaelin Trilling, at Seasons of My Heart Cooking School in Oaxaca. We will experience Oaxacan cuisine from taco stands to high end and modern restaurants. Meals can be adapted for vegetarians and can be made gluten-free. There will be one morning or afternoon free for shopping and an evening free to do your own thing. 

See our 2024 itinerary here