Modena Day Trip: Cheese, Balsamic, Wine & Ferrari, Bologna

Spend a full day discovering the iconic exports of the celebrated Emilia-Romagna region on this immersive day trip from Bologna. You'll go behind the scenes and visit three separate facilities to learn of and sample their products, including Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and Lambrusco wine, with time afterward for a farmhouse lunch in the Modena countryside. The day culminates with a museum stop in Maranello for a look at the legendary Ferrari, where Italy's famous high-performance luxury cars are brought to life.

From your hotel in Bologna, you'll transfer to the heart of Emilia-Romagna's culinary landscape, known as Italy's "Food Valley" and "Motor Valley" for its claim as the birthplace of numerous foodie and high-octane sports car exports beyond what's on today's agenda.

First stop: a local dairy, where master cheesemakers transform fresh milk into wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano using time-honored techniques. On a guided visit through the production rooms and aging warehouses, you'll learn what sets this DOP-protected cheese apart—from copper vats to months (or years) of maturation. The experience ends, of course, with a tasting that highlights the complexity and crystalline texture of different ages.

You'll continue to an artisanal acetaia to uncover the secrets of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena (Modena balsamic vinegar), exploring the family-run production center and aging rooms, where rows of wooden barrels hold the "black gold." Your guide will explain the lengthy aging process and strict regulations behind this prized condiment before you sample a few viscous drops, rich, syrupy, and surprisingly nuanced.

You're next off to visit a Lambrusco winery. Tour the cellar, learn about this lightly frizzante red wine that pairs so effortlessly with regional cuisine, and enjoy a guided tasting that reveals its sweet, fruity character. It's then time for a traditional lunch at a charming agriturismo, likely at a wine estate or a balsamic producer's farmhouse, set among the rolling hills outside the town of Modena. 

Shifting gears in the afternoon, you'll head to the Ferrari Museum (next door to the Fiorano test track) in Maranello. Wander independently among historic race cars, sleek road models, trophies, and multimedia exhibits that chart Ferrari's evolution. It's a chance to step into the world of Italian design and engineering excellence and see where some of the most coveted cars on the planet were born. At the end of the full day, your driver will return you to your accommodation. (Please note that the order of visits may change depending on availability and scheduling.)