Grand Tasting Tour | Sussex Made. Italian Soul. 🇮🇹🚌

A Taste of Italy, Crafted in Sussex

📅 Date: Friday, 21st August 2026

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM departure – 3:30 PM return

📍 Departure: Brighton Seafront

🎟️ Tickets: £65 per person — Strictly limited to 22 tickets!

Join Us for an Unforgettable Day

The Brighton Italian Festival is proud to present the first-ever Grand Tasting Tour — a unique one-day journey celebrating the best of Sussex's Italian-inspired food, wine, and culture, aboard the iconic Big Lemon electric bus.

From artisan focaccia in historic Lewes to organic wine at a premier vineyard, guided olive oil and Sussex cheese tastings, a live Pizzica folk dance session, and a Limoncello toast to send you home happy — this is a celebration of one day, many flavours, and unforgettable memories.

Only 22 tickets are available to keep the experience intimate. Once they’re gone, they’re gone — book early to secure your seat!

What’s Included

🚌 Eco-Friendly Travel: Return transport on the 100% electric Big Lemon bus
🧀 Focaccia & EVOO: Artisan Focaccia Genovese workshop & Pugliese olive oil tasting
🍷 Vineyard Experience: Guided wine tasting at an award-winning organic estate
🥂 Aperitivo: On-board alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks en route
🧀 Cheese & Grazing: Local Sussex cheese tasting paired with expert commentary
💃 Cultural Workshops: Live Pizzica folk dance session & interactive Italian lesson
🍋 Sweet Finale: Homemade Italian dessert and a final Limoncello toast

Tour Itinerary

10:00 AM — Departure from Brighton Seafront_ Madeira Terrace in front of the Zip line-

Board the Big Lemon, meet your host, and settle in with an interactive on-board Italian language lesson as we head into the Sussex countryside.

10:30 AM — Stop 1: Lewes

Caccia & Tails — Artisan Focaccia & Puglia EVOO Workshop

Learn the secrets of fresh artisan focaccia from expert Elisa Furci and taste it hot from the oven, paired with a guided tasting of extra virgin olive oil and olives imported directly from Puglia.

12:30 PM — Stop 2: Oxney Organic Estate, Rye

Vineyard Visit, Wine, Cheese & Folk Dance

Explore England’s premier organic vineyard with a guided wine tasting paired with Italian-style Sussex cheeses from The Cheese Hut. Afterward, try your hand (and feet!) at Pizzica, a high-energy traditional Southern Italian folk dance led by Mariangela Franco.

2:30 PM — Stop 3: The Secret Italian Finale

We wrap up the journey at one of Sussex’s hidden gems of Italian culture for homemade Italian dessert, a final Limoncello toast, and time to unwind before heading back.

3:30 PM — Return to Brighton

Arrive back at Brighton Seafront happy, well-fed, and feeling a little more Italian than when you left.

Meet Your Cultural Guides

William Ranieri — Hosting an interactive Italian language session covering essential travel phrases, culture, and culinary terminology.
Elisa Furci Giannella Olive Oil rep and Focaccia Genovese expert sharing the secrets of traditional baking alongside insights into EVOO production, harvest, and flavor profiling.
The Cheese Hut — Local Sussex cheese expert guiding an Italian-inspired cheese tasting and grazing experience.
Mariangela Franco — Sharing authentic Pugliese traditions and leading our live Pizzica dance session.

Key Information

Ticket Price: £65 per person
Includes: Return bus transport, all food and wine tastings, vineyard entry, on-board aperitivo, dessert, Limoncello, and all live workshops.
Capacity: 22 seats total.
Pick-up & Drop-off: Brighton Seafront.
Contact: brightonitalianfestival@gmail.com

🎟️ Strictly 22 seats available. Book yours now and join us for Sussex Made, Italian Soul!

Contact the host of Grand Tasting Tour, Sussex Made, Italian Soul 🇮🇹🚌