Culinary & Wine Tours> Italy> Beautiful Barolos
Italy: Beautiful Barolos
Piedmont, Italy - 5 nights
Meet: Tortona train station
(outside of Milano)
Depart: Arquata Scrivia train station
*It is necessary to
arrive in Italy the day before the tour begins, in order to meet the
morning shuttle.
 Day
One - A day at the races
In the spring, we start the tour by spotlighting the wine for which Piedmont is most famous: Barolo. First we shuttle you from the train station to our hotel near Alba, wine and truffle capital of Piedmont. After a welcome lunch, we head to the hills and visit Renato Ratti. This influential estate has a fascinating wine museum, showcasing antique winemaking implements, old labels, and the evolution of bottle shapes. What's more, it produces top-notch Barolos, Dolcettos and Barberas. Afterwards, we'll continue up the area's highest hill to the town of La Morra, where we can browse its well-stocked enoteche (wine shops-tasting rooms).
In October, we instead devote this day to Alba's annual Palio degli Asini. This donkey race is partly a spoof on the more serious horserace run in Asti. The tradition in both towns goes back to Alba's defeat by Asti in 1275. Today the palio is an excuse for townsfolk to dress in elaborate medieval garb, parade through the streets, showcase the colorful sport of banner tossing, and root for their neighborhood's steed. The fact that donkeys have a mind of their own and generally ignore the frantic jockeys on their backs makes it all the merrier.
Dinner in Alba introduces us to the French-influenced cuisine of Piedmont, which features rice as much as pasta, butter as much as olive oil, and an endless array of appetizers, including bagna cauda, vegetables with a creamy garlic/anchovy dipping sauce.
Day Two - Mountain cheese and the king of wines
The history of Barolo wine is intertwined with the ruling class of Piedmont during the mid-19th century. Today we'll visit the Castello di Barolo, home of the French-born Marchesa Guilia Colbert. This widow was at the center of a circle of politicians and enologists who created the style of wine now called Barolo. Lunch will take us to the high hills, or Alte Langhe, where we'll visit a cheese farm outside the town of Bossolasco. Here we'll meet their makers - sheep, cows, and third-generation dairy farmers - and feast on fresh cheese, local honey, and yogurt that converts even skeptics. We'll visit two Barolo producers in the afternoon: Fratelli Seghesio and Giacomo Fenocchio. Both are in Monforte, a commune known for its potent Barolos, rich with tannins for long aging. There will be time afterwards to explore the shops and churches of Alba, a lovely medieval city whose storefronts are brimming with local delicacies like truffle butter, chocolate, and chestnut honey. Dinner will feature local fare like agnolotti (a variation of ravioli), veal with delicate tuna sauce (vitello tonnato), and bread sticks, another piemontese invention.
Day Three - Say "truffle"
If you've ever tried to take food away from a pig, you'll understand why truffle hunters switched to dogs. We'll spend the morning with a truffle hunter and his hounds and see how they're trained to sniff out these precious tubers growing amidst the roots of hazelnut and oak trees. The afternoon takes us to Fratelli Alessandria in the commune of Verduno, where we'll be introduced to Pelaverga, a light peppery red wine, as well as their knockout Barbera. Our second stop is at the small family-run winery of Silvio Grasso, which makes some delicious "Super Piedmont" blends as well as several Barolo cru. Tonight is dinner on your own at one of Alba's many fine restaurants.
 Day
Four - Barbaresco & Barbera d'Asti
Today we focus on the other B's of Piedmont: Barbaresco and Barbera. We'll start in the town of Barbaresco and explore its eponymous wine, which, like Barolo, is a statuesque red made from the nebbiolo grape. We'll visit the Produttori del Barbaresco and get an in-depth picture of this fascinating nonprofit cooperative and its highly prized wines. After lunching on plin (tiny ravioli), we'll have our afternoon tasting at Braida, the estate of Giacomo Bologna. This was the man who single-handedly revolutionized Barbera, transforming it from a rustic table wine into a wine of great character and finesse. We'll taste an array of his wines, which range from light, dry Grignolino to powerful oak-aged Barberas. Then we'll drive to southeastern Piedmont and the land of Gavi wine. Our hotel is in the wine estate of Villa Sparina. Upon our arrival, we'll relax over a tasting of Villa Sparina's award-winning Gavi wines.
 Day
Five - Gavi di Gavi
After a tour of Villa Sparina's winemaking facilities and 17th C. cellars, we'll visit the quiet town of Gavi, home to one of Piedmont's most famous white wines. Here the shop windows proudly display Gavi di Gavi wine, as well as the town's yummy light-as-air almond cookies. We'll visit the Fortress of Gavi, an imposing 11th century structure that once guarded the salt roads from Genoa to Milan. Then we'll head home: lunch is at the medieval townhouse of La Dolce Vita Wine Tours' co-owners. Here we'll cook lunch together, getting hands-on experience with classic piemontese dishes like bagna cauda and risotto made with Gavi wine. We'll also raid the wine cellar for a sampler of Gavi and Barbera wines from the area. Our afternoon winery visit takes us to La Giustiniana, whose wines are as gorgeous as its 18th century villa. Finally, our farewell dinner is at Villa Sparina's elegant restaurant (housed in a former hayloft), which spotlights regional fare and Gavi wines.
 Day
Six - Arrivederci!
A shuttle to the Arquata Scrivia train station and assistance with your travel plans.
| BOOKING INFORMATION |
| 2008 FEES PER PERSON
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DEPOSIT |
Double Room/US$2795
Single Room Supplement/US$350
Standard accommodations are two people per room. If you are traveling alone, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender, or you may choose to room alone by paying a private room supplement fee.
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After availability is confirmed, a deposit of US$400 per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 60 days before your arrival date. |
| 2008 DATE |
INCLUDED |
October 5-10
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*Breakfasts
*One (1) lunch or picnic
*All dinners except one
*All tastings and wine at dinner
*Charming 3 and 4 star hotels, many in renovated villas, palazzi, abbeys, or on
wine estates and all with private baths
Transportation: We provide one van pick-up on day of arrival/departure at designated train station or airport (call for times). All ground transport during stay.
Not Included:
Airfare
Most lunches
Transportation to start/end points (except for above shuttle)
Personal expenses
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For further inquiries or to register, click here.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations must be received in writing 60 days prior to the date of departure. You will receive a refund, less a $75/person cancellation fee (and less the $50 per person non-refundable booking fee). Between 59-45 days prior to the start date, you may apply 40% of the tour price towards a future trip departing within one year of the cancellation date. Cancellations made less than 45 days before the start of the trip will result in the loss of all monies received. No refunds will be made for a cancellation during the course of the tour, nor for unused portions of the trip. No exceptions to our cancellation policy are made, including weather or personal emergency.
Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS
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