| |
PIEDMONT
Day by Day
Day 1-2 Across Monferrato, and Asti
We cross the border, right out the Malpensa airport, and we are in Piedmont, among the Novara rice fields. The first wines that we taste are the Barberas, the fresh table wines, as well as the top level, barrique aged Barberas, full bodied, and smooth, which have comletely changes the reputation of this wine. Monferrato was a powerful medieval marquisate, on its hills we find beautiful castles, and the Abbey of Vezzolano, dating back to Charlemagne, and enriched for the following centuries, a masterpiece of the gothic architecture.
Day 3-4-5-6
The Langhe: Barolo, Barbaresco, and surroundings
“Langhe” defines a small hilly area to the south of Alba, it includes Barolo town, Monforte, Serralunga and few others. Here is where the more noble Piedmont wines are produced. Barolo, as a wine, came to fame as a top, long ageing wine for the past Italian court, about 150 years ago, it comes from the “sorì” vineyards, planted on the better exposed slopes. Nebbiolo, its young brother, made with the same Nebbiolo grape, is a perfumed, pleasant and often elegant medium body wine, less challenging and more enjoyable with every meal.
 Barbaresco is a Nebbiolo based wine too, its reputations raised among that of the bigger world wines only recently, largely due to Angelo Gaja and few other innovative wine makers. Its taste, ans its style, so, are quite different from the classic Barolos, probably more easily appreciated by the ideal “international” palate. You will get a great chance to taste both, and decide which one meets better your taste.
We like to propose a complete range of tasting, including famous - but sometime commercial - wineries, boutique producers who only produce top range wines, often designed for the international market, and more real, traditional wineries, often family managements, produce great bottles for the taste of the traditional Piedmontese and Italian experts. A few estates have their own trattoria, family run, and like in the old times, a few rooms to rent. All what you need, in facts, for allowing a full immersion in the Langhe atmosphere, and to forget everythinglese
We leave one day open, for a daytrip out of the Langhe. We offer you several options for this day.
We might take a daytrip to visit Alba - or we rathe rmust, if it’s in the full trufflle season - or Bra, the capital of the Slowfood movement, learn about their work to preserve the original specialties of the worls, and their diversity, and maybe eat at their trattoria.
Or rather we can reach the “high Langa”, or the Alpine foothills, and get, right at the dairy, a tasting of celebrated Piedmont cheeses. In the Roero, hills, othewise, we can visit the historical Cinzano Vermouth and Spumante estate, and visit their amazing underground cellars.
Day 7-8 Turin
We shall take a break from intensive wine tasting, and explore, instead, the first capital of Italy , its art treausure, and especially the surprises that it keeps for a gourmet traveller. In Turin we discover some of the finest chocolate makers ever,the finest restaurants, where the creative Piedmont cuisine can be tasted at its best, and we’ll take time for extensive wine tastings in the finest wine bars. A visit to Turin is not to miss, anyhow, since the city shows an elegant center from 1700-1800, when the Savoy dinasty reacehd its peak, and worked on the unification of Italy. We can admire the Royal Palace, the first parliament in Italy, fine baroque churches, and the amazing Egyptian museum, one of the best in the world.  
Suggested Extensions
The Valdaosta Alps and wines
From Turin we can drive up to the Val d’Aosta, lodge in Aosta downtown, and spend two days in one of the most beautiful valleys, surrounded by the highest European peaks: the Mt. Blanc, Mt. Rosa and Mt. Cervino (Matterhorn).
In this days, we can get to taste some mountain cuisine, the finest Fontina cheese, and the wines of Donnaz, and Morgex, coming from the highest vineyads possible. Depending on the season, we will be able to take a walk along an easy mountain trail, or simply talke a lift and enjoy the nicer views of the area from above.
Lake Orta retreat
The Orta Lake, and the beautiful little St. Giulio island, with its Franciscan Abbey,
are a romantic retreat, were you can spend the last days in relax, before going back to businness as usual. The lake atmosphere is quiet, enchanting, almost out of this time, and not by chance it fascinated several writers and poets, as well as many travellers of today, who consider it an unique magic retreat. In the surroundings we will be able to taste the Ghemme and Erbaluce wines, or to pay a visit to the Lake Maggiore, and see Arona and the Isola Bella, just one hour drive from the airport of Malpensa.
Portofino and Cinqueterre
These two celebrated locations, fancy and a bit cold the first, familiar, and more welcoming the other, mark two characters of the Ligurian Eastern Riviera. We suggest at least 3 days stay, which allows to visit Santa Margherita, Portofino itself (1hr), and maybe take a walk along the coast. In Cinqueterre, based in Monterosso, or Vernazza, we will spend our time walking or hiking in the breathtaking coastal trail, or simply taking the ferry or the train from town to town, and hanging around the passeggiata or at the beach. In our favourite spots we’ll discover the very different Cinqueterre wine, as well as the Vermentino, and Pigato - from the western Riviera - and the sweet, aromatic Sciacchetrà: This dessert wine marks the end of our experience, and you will take its sweet flavor with you, on the way back to the airport and home.
|
|
