Culinary & Wine Tours> Italy> Italy's Super Tuscans
Italy: Italy's Super Tuscans
Tuscany, Italy - 5 nights
 Meet:
Pisa
Depart: Florence
*It is necessary to
arrive in Italy the day before the tour begins, in order to meet the
morning shuttle.
Day 1 - Meet the Maremma
From our pick-up point in Pisa, we'll shuttle south to the Maremma, Tuscany's wild coast. We'll arrive in time for a welcome lunch at the family-run winery Gualdo del Re near Suvereto. The name means "King's Forest referring to the fact that the property once belonged to the Dukes of Lucca when the Longobards ruled the area. In the afternoon, we'll become further acquainted with Maremma wines at the small wineries Il Falcone and Petricci. Both focus on Super Tuscan blends, which merge Tuscany's native sangiovese grape with French varieties like cabernet, merlot, and syrah. Dinner will be in Castagneto Carducci, a medieval town tucked in the Apennine mountains that overlooks the sweeping plain and distant sparkling sea. Here the menu focuses on woodland cuisine, with wild boar (cinghiale) and polenta a regional favorite.
Day 2 - Bolgheri & the Birth of Super Tuscans
In the morning we'll visit an olive oil mill near Bolgheri. Surrounded by craggy, centuries-old olive trees, the mill is run by a team of brothers and their father who are experimenting with oil created without pressing the olive pits. The rest of the day focuses on the wines of Bolgheri, the area that first put Super Tuscans on the map. We'll travel down a cypress-lined road to the estate of Tenuta San Guido, cradle of the legendary Sassicaia, the first Super Tuscan wine. Back in 1944, cuttings from the Chateau Lafite-Rothschild in Bordeaux were planted here to see how Cabernet would do in this setting. Then French oak barriques were introduced. The rest is history, a veritable revolution in Italian winemaking that continues to this day. After lunch, we'll visit two other pioneering estates, Grattamacco and Michele Satta, who were among the first to put down stakes in the Maremma. Dinner is on your own in Castagneto Carducci, where you might sample such Tuscan fare as rustic bread salad (panzanella) and guinea fowl in wine sauce.
Day 3 - The wonders of Massa Maritima
Of all the Maremma's medieval hilltowns, Massa Maritima is the most beautiful. Its jewel in the crown is an ornate Gothic cathedral that bristles with growling gargoyles and houses a sublime altarpiece by Sienese artist Duccio. A second point of interest is an antique olive oil museum, which replicates the oil production methods of the 17th century. Our visit to the city and lunch is flanked by visits to two top-notch wineries: Morris Farm and Tua Rita. Both are family-run properties that excel at creating Maremma's succulent blended reds. Before dinner at the hotel, you'll have time to stroll in the hotel's Mediterranean gardens or burn off some steam on its various sports fields.
Day 4 - Etruscans in Volterra
Today we cross the Apennine mountains, moving inland to Tuscany's ancient heart. Along the way, we'll stop in Volterra, a
hill town known for its alabaster workshops and for its Etruscan museum, the best in the world. Preceding Roman civilization, the Etruscans were an educated and cultured people who were the first to widely cultivate vineyards in Italy. After lunch in town, we'll continue on to San Gimignano, the most perfectly preserved medieval town in Europe. Famed for its dozen towers, it is also known for its Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white wine acclaimed ever since the time of Dante. In 1643 Michelangelo Buonarotti the Younger wrote that it "kisses, licks, bites, slaps and stings." We'll test out that theory out at Panizzi, one of the leading wineries, which makes several styles of Vernaccia, from drink-now to age-worthy. Dinner is family style in the tiny borgo of San Donato, where the mother-in-law does all the cooking. Buon appetito, and pass the biscottiand van santo!
Day 5 - In the Tuscan kitchen
Today we explore San Gimignano, beginning with a visit to the cathedral, an awesome gem with floor-to-ceiling Italian Gothic frescos. Those with strong quads can also climb the tallest tower for a great view of the Tuscan landscape. After lunch in town and time to shop, we'll have our afternoon tasting at Cesani, a boutique winery that produces two styles of
Vernaccia. The estate's star, however, is its award-winning Super Tuscan, Luenzo, made from
Sangiovese and the disappearing native grape colorino. Next you can roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking demo in the kitchen of a lovely villa. We'll see how to make some simple but oh-so-tasty Tuscan dishes and learn more about the local cuisine, which is centered on homemade pasta, rustic soups, and game from the woods. During our farewell dinner, we'll toast new friends, new discoveries, and new memories..
Day 6 - Arrivederci!
A shuttle to Florence 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$300
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 DATES |
INCLUDED |
June 9-14
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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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