Sarah

The wine-loving writer

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  • I live in Bologna
  • I speak English, Italiano
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 5 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Hi!

Let me take you on a journey of discovery among Bologna's fabulous food and wonderful wine locations!

I'm British but I've been based here in Italy for many years working as a food & wine travel writer. And more recently I've qualified as a tour leader and nature guide as I really love sharing secrets about the Italian foodie culture which is so deeply engrained in the way of life, with friends old and new.

My real passion is wine however, and I'm also a qualified sommelier. I'm especially fascinated by the never-ending experience of discovering the secrets, traditions and tastes of Emilia Romagna's many and varied wines!

I'd love to take you to some of the city's historic wine-bars to try a few local wines or on an out-of-town trip to visit the local wine areas, perhaps with a walk between wineries for a tour and tasting day, naturally including plenty of good local food too!

Just ask and I'll send a personalised offer!

After so many years living here – at least 25 – Italy is well and truly my home, also thanks to my Bolognese husband, who's a stickler for his city's culinary traditions!

But hey, this is Motor Valley as well as Food Valley and the design and performance is simply incredible. I also work as an occasional tour guide at the Ducati factory and museum - fascinating even if motors aren't usually your thing.

Cheers & ciao from Bologna - hope to meet you soon!

Sarah.

  • I live in Bologna
  • I speak English, Italiano
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 5 hours

Book one of my offers in Bologna

Let's explore Bologna together! As your local guide, I'll show you the best of Bologna on a private & personalized tour for you.

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Reviews

Barbara
19 May 2025
Family of 5 from Canada (all adults) went on this tour with Sarah Friday. Sarah was very responsive to questions we had beforehand and also reached out with details etc. She is well organized and the tour ran smoothly. The walk through the countryside was amazing. Both wineries were very welcoming and generous. Highly recommend this tour with Sarah. 2 wineries tour with Sarah
Samantha
8 May 2025
Sarah was very generous with her time for us. Not only did we get flavors from several places in the market and around town, but she toured us around other interesting locations that had nothing to do with the tasting tour. She has a vast knowledge of Bologna and is a sommelier with intimate knowledge of wine in the region. Having done a different food tour last week in Venice, which was also lovely, we appreciated this curated experience that didn’t leave us feeling too stuffed to walk - we were happy and satisfied. We would highly recommend Sarah, who was very accommodating to our involuntary schedule change (don’t ask) and extremely helpful. Very kind and knowledgeable
Anna
6 April 2025
We had a walk around Bologna with Sarah for well over three hours. On the way we experienced the amazing food this region has to offer. In addition to the well known hams and cheeses, Sarah introduced us to other stuff on the menu that we probably wouldn’t have tried if it hadn’t been for her recommendation. In addition to the food and wine tastings, Sarah shared her knowledge of Bologna’s history and culture. A perfect day to discover this hidden gem! Heaven for a foodie
Boo
16 February 2025
Sarah is a lovely person, knowledgeable, funny, and kind. I was in town researching a new novel, and she helped paint such a lovely picture of Bologna, through history, food, and wine. Don't think twice about hiring her! I never could have found the special haunts and hidden spots without her.sensational guide!
Kate
21 October 2024
Sarah is very knowledgeable about wines and gave us a great insight into some of the most iconic foods of the region, as well as a little information about the city throughout the tour. She was very generous with her time, and helpful with her communications before meeting. The tastings were spot on in terms of variety and quantities. All in all the tour gave us a great introduction to city and its culinary offerings, and left us only hungry to explore more! Definitely recommended.Great intro to Bologna's food and wine
John
13 October 2024
What a great day we had with Sarah. She contacted us in advance and put together a bespoke experience that was the highlight of our trip. We felt like we were spending the day with an old friend! Great day with Sarah!
John
5 October 2024
What a fantastic day! Sarah had the four of us, first, ride a local train, then treated us to a delightful classic Italian breakfast. Then, umbrellas up!, we walked along a scenic paved small country road to the first winery. Oh, Wow! I won’t spoil what unfolded next but between Sarah and Enrico (the winery guide), the experience was well beyond our expectations. Then off we went down the road to catch a local bus to the second winery. All I can say is that it was a bit of the same but really very different as it was now Sarah and Sylvia!! Sylvia had a way of making us feel like family and at the end, she got the biggest hugs. Sarah was the key to an unforgettable day!!Wow! Sarah was terrific!!
Christal
3 October 2024
I'm a demo cooking instructor and my husband is reallly into wines -- Sarah curated a wonderful food and wine tour that met all our interests and expectations. She always managed to throw in wonderful stories and history tidbits about Bologna and we never would have found anywhere else. Loved her, loved the tour! Sarah KNOWS Bologna!
Ivan
27 September 2024
We really enjoyed our action packed day out with Sarah. Her local knowledge both in terms of food and wine specialities is extensive. We would have called into Specialist food retailers overlooked by larger food tour operators. The main reason for our selecting Sarah as our local guide was her offical guide access to one well known motorcycle manufacturer of which she is an accredited guide to. The tour of the factory and museum was most informative and enjoyable, but the highlight would have been a visit to a private motorcycle collection and display belonging to a well known motorcycle racer and team owner. In all, a very memorable day. I would recommend Sarah for all things food, wine and motorcycles. Fantastic day out!
Peter
17 September 2024
We’re so grateful to Sarah for such an enjoyable time. The ten tastings of Bologna more than lived up to its name. We really appreciated how Sarah adapted the tour to the things we told her we liked, and the result was an afternoon that left us satisfied with the things we ate and drank as well as what we saw and learned of the city. The beautiful weather helped, of course, but that’s just a bonus. We peppered Sarah all kinds of questions, not just about the food, and she gave us great advice for the rest of our time in Bologna. Plus, she was so welcoming and friendly. We’re so happy we booked a tour with her!What a fantastic afternoon!

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