Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan

What started as a fun trip with an old friend to Sicily has turned into a new business – Taste of Tours.

It’s no secret that I love to travel. Combine it with great food and wine and a big dash of storytelling and it’s the perfect recipe for me and, it turns out, for many of you. I have been blown away by the response we have had for our tours and, most importantly, with the feedback from our guests. The fact that several have returned for a second tour with me is the ultimate compliment.

So what makes Taste of Tours different?

Size – our tours are strictly small group tours with a maximum of 12 guests.  When I first started, I used the term small group tours a lot only to discover ‘small group’ on other tours means 18–24 guests!

By keeping our group truly small we can experience so much more, from eating in local restaurants to visiting local cheesemakers, and going inside kitchens for a cooking class. When we visit a winery, it’s not a lecture on the vineyard but an intimate discussion with the winemaker. No headphones with a guide at the front droning on and reciting facts, instead we amble and chat as a group of friends discovering something new around each corner.

A smaller group also means less waiting and more time to see and do!

As an ardent independent traveller who normally spurns organised tour holidays, I have created Taste of Tours with me in mind. Keeping the group small and made up of like-minded Kiwis is key. Whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or with friends, this small group dynamic creates a family-like feel.

This atmosphere is cemented by the fact almost all your meals on a Taste of Tour are included. There is nothing more bonding than breaking bread and raising a glass together, and we want to ensure those meals are memorable. It’s a foodie tour after all!

From a rustic lunch in a market, to a dinner in a private palazzo, a cave or at the best restaurant in town, an aperitivo with a view to die for or pasta you made yourself – the meals on a Taste of Tour are part of the experience, so naturally included.

Just as we spend time curating the meals, we also spend just as much time designing the itinerary to ensure guests get a real taste of place. We can’t go everywhere – for instance in South Australia you can visit a different winery every day of the year and still not get around them all, so it is our job to decide which. Staying in South Australia we have chosen wineries that naturally make great wines, but we’ve also considered the experience, the story, balancing the old and established with the new and up and coming, the small and family-run wineries with the global giants.

Creating key relationships with locals is another key part of Taste of Tours success.  While all our tours have a Kiwi host, we also have local guides and drivers, so you are well looked after.

So, sit back and enjoy a taste adventure with me.

Sicily

This is our flagship tour and one of my favourites! I love this island so much I am dragging my husband, Andrew, with me this year to convince him this is where we need to ‘retire’.

This tour was created in partnership with my friend Rosario, who I met whilst managing a restaurant in Notting Hill. We had no idea back then that 25 years later we would have similar careers, promoting and celebrating the food from our hometowns, the very places we were so eager to leave when we were young.

There is so much to love about Sicily – the layers of history and how this is reflected in the food. Who knew my BA in classical studies and career in hospitality would come together! Like the food, the architecture in Sicily tells a story of the past and will give you a kink in your neck as you wander the streets looking up and marvelling at the beauty.

Another highlight of Sicily is their emerging wine story as they embrace their heritage and traditions to create their own wine identity.

We still have 3 spaces left in our Taste of Sicily tour this September, so if you are keen to join me, please email me hello@tasteoftours.com

Puglia

I was first introduced to Puglia when I worked for a wonderful couple in Melbourne.  Michael’s broccoli orecchiette was worth volunteering for the lunch shift any day of the week. Add to the fact that my favourite wine varietal, Primitivo, comes from Puglia, it was a no-brainer we would create a tour to this region of Italy, the first being late September/early October 2026 which will run after our Taste of Sicily tour, allowing you to join the two together.

Croatia

This one’s special for me, as I get to share with you while also learning more myself about the land of my pop. Join Julie Le Clerc and myself on our inaugural tour of the Croatian coast in June 2026.

From the best olive oil and truffles of Istria to the unique wine of Korcula island. We’ll wander through the lavender fields of Hvar, marvel at the city walls of Dubrovnik, scoff oysters in Ston and so much more.

Emilia Romagna

This one’s a truly intimate tour as we base ourselves in a gorgeous villa just outside Bologna for five nights. From this wonderful base we will travel to nearby towns to discover the secrets and traditions of world-renowned Italian foods like balsamic vinegar, Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, not to mention lasagne, tortellini and some amazing wines.

This tour is scheduled to end just a few days before our Taste of Croatia tour begins, allowing you to join the two together for one epic culinary holiday.

Mexico

If you are looking for a destination that has it all, Mexico is it! Layers of history, fascinating culture, wonderful art (think Freda Kahlo) and architecture (from ancient pyramids to the Spanish cathedrals), beautiful beaches and wildlife (we’ll swim with turtles) and I haven’t even got to the food!
Mexico will surprise and delight, and we have created a tour you will love.

Sri Lanka

With the 2025 tour sold out, don’t miss your chance to book our 2026 tour hosted by Emma Galloway. For me, Sri Lanka stands out as an amazing destination for three reasons. The people – the most zen people I have ever met! In Sri Lanka you will experience firsthand the teaching of Buddha through the people that live it each day.
The wildlife – from monkeys on your hotel balcony to seeing truly wild animals in their element on safari, Sri Lanka will awe you with its wildlife.
The ingredients – from rice paddies as far as the eye can see, to pepper drying along the side of the road, picking tea in the hills or learning how cinnamon is harvested, Sri Lanka will give you a true appreciation for these ingredients.

South Australia

As I write this I am not long back from South Australia, and it is hard to call that work! I love this region of Australia. Foodies, forget Melbourne, South Australia has it all – amazing restaurants, wine, beer, cheese, chocolate, gin, markets… and we experience them all.
Join Chef Mat Mclean this October or my good friend and wine expert Julia Clarke over Easter in 2026.

www.tasteoftours.com