Jennifer McIlvaine - Chef/Head Foodie, Life Italian Style Tours & Gusto Wine Tours
Jennifer McIlvaine – Gusto Wine Tours & chef/head foodie, Life Italian Style Tours.

The Gusto Story

Gusto Wine Tours was founded in 2010 by Mark & Giselle Stafford, 2 wine lovers who developed a passion for the area and created the successful winery tour business we now know as Gusto Wine Tours!


Fourteen years later, in 2024, Mark & Giselle decided to retire the business and handed it over to yours truly, Jennifer McIlvaine, chef, fellow wine enthusiast, and owner of the Forbes recommended Life Italian Style Tours and Le Barbatelle Wine Bar in Bevagna, right here in the heart of Umbria.

I am very excited to continue the work begun by my friends and look forward to guiding you from the vineyard to the glass on our tours! Ciao!

Award-Winning Wine Tours in the Umbrian countryside!

Our speciality is small and ‘non-touristy’ wine tours. Normally, except sometimes during the harvest, you can expect the personal attention of the wine-makers themselves.

You are usually the only group at the winery at the time for that exclusive feel! Couple this with practically empty roads and beautiful Umbrian countryside and you will truly appreciate that this isn’t a conveyor-belt experience but a real local one. You will learn about and try truly spectacular Umbrian wines.

Award Winning Wine Tours in the Umbrian countryside
You will learn about and try truly spectacular Umbrian wines
A Day With Gusto Wine Tours in Umbria includes
Pouring a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG wine

A Day With Gusto Wine Tours in Umbria includes

  • Meeting the winemakers of small family-run wineries
  • Tasting the fabulous local wines with light snacks to complement them
  • Discover the spectacular Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG wine
  • Touring at least one of the wineries, seeing the barrel rooms and learning the process from harvest to bottle
  • Enjoying a memorable Umbrian lunch in the countryside with fresh local produce and, of course, local wines
  • Relax and be driven from winery to winery, taking in the gorgeous scenery along the way
  • Take a stroll in the vines, if the weather permits
  • Come and see for yourselves why we have won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 9 years in a row!

We’d be delighted if you joined us!

Depending on the time of year, you could get to see the grape harvest (Vendemmia). You could get to see the crushing of the grapes or the surprisingly interesting bottling process at these small wineries. You might even be able to participate in the Vendemmia at one of the vineyards!

To all our Gusto Guests

When you are planning your holiday and Gusto Wine Tour in Umbria, don’t forget that Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted Airport to San Egidio (Perugia) in Umbria. Take a look at all the lovely places to stay we have listed in our Sleeps & Eats. Don’t forget we are an easy train ride away from Rome – perfect for a day trip to Umbrian wine country! Contact Jennifer for details and to book your Gusto Wine Tour!

We look forward to welcoming you to Umbria!