# 14.1 – Wine Tour: Rome to Milan
Segment 10 of “The Grand Wine Tour of Italy”: Rome to Milan (S10)
Private Tour with Wine Expert & Driver
The Grand Wine Tour of Italy is a journey within a journey. From the renowned Italian Journey by Goethe it takes some key elements, such as the slow and experiential style of travelling, which will allow participants to discover “off the beaten tracks” Italy, Ancient Rome classicism, Italian fine arts and local food & wine traditions.
We will look at some of the traditional destinations of The Grand Tour through the eyes of some very famous artists and writers, who visited the same destinations in the 18th and 19th centuries, as an integral part of their journey of a lifetime to receive a wide on-site informal cultural education.
With the educational support of our wine experts, we will cross six Italian Regions to retrace history and geography of Italian Fine Wine. They will accompany the tour, helping participants understand the distinctive wines of each region, the local vine varieties and the specific characteristics of soils and styles of vineyard plantation, that make each wine unique.
We will visit a selection of particularly relevant wineries for their excellent and world-wide renowned wines as well as for the high standards of hospitality services and experiences they provide. Their experts will lead the guests through the history of the wineries, the vineyards, the vinification and the fining cellars and the prestigious company estates and historic houses. With a bit of luck, we will have the chance to meet the descendants of the founders, who still carry on this wonderful adventure.
Food & Wine, Fine Arts, Cultural & Natural Heritage, along with authenticity of places and people will be at the heart of The Grand Wine Tour of Italy experience.
We will discover the world-famous Italian wines where they are born, different nuances of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, the grapes which made Italian red wine famous in the world, and a special selection of local vine varieties, particularly significant for their special symbiotic relationship with the soils from which they originate and with the traditional cusine they are paired with.
We will have direct experience of all this thanks to a careful selection of Italian fine trattoria & osteria, and in some destinations, of Michelin starred Chefs, who wisely know how to bring together their creativity and local food traditions.
The world-famous Roman Antiquities, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the great sculptures by Bernini and Borromini, the Fountain of Trevi, the Puccini Museum at his birthplace in Lucca, sea, valley and hill landscapes, along with the Northern Italy Lake District will be some of our destinations.
To round off a unique experience, we will often stay overnight in historic houses, we will enjoy tasting lunches at the wineries, to directly experience the wine pairings, we will enjoy the Italian Cultural and Natural Heritage through some outdoor experiences, such as an easy trekking in the Natural Park of Portofino, a truffle hunting in the Langhe Region, the exploration of the marble quarries in Carrara, where Michelangelo and the great artists of Italian Renaissance found the precious blocks to create some of the most famous sculptures in the world.
The transfers as well will be part of the experience. On board our luxury minivan with driver, you will be also accompanied by our experts, to get the opportunity of gaining a deeper knowledge of the wines and the different experiences of the day.
Do not forget to keep an eye out the window: the scenery will change at any turn!
Also during your free time, your tour leaders and local guides will be delighted of being at your disposal to give specific advice on the best local experiences and opportuinities.
To guarantee the best quality service, every tour will welcome at most ten participants. We look forward to accompanying you through this new and wonderful adventure.
The Grand Wine Tour of Italy is developed in collaboration with The Grand Wine Tour Association, to create a unique experience. It is the result of decades-long experience of its organizers in the cultural and food & wine tourism industry. Italy Destinaiton by Paltours and The Grand Winr Tour Association are the perfect combination to create your memorable tour.
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Transfers: Private Mercedes minivan with driver
Number of participants: small groups up to 10 people
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
The Expert Guides of The Grand Wine Tour of Italy
Antonio Grimaldi: Wine has always been an important part of his life. It all began when as a child he used to follow his father in the little family cellar in wintertime. Therefore, it was very clear what field he would have chosen for his education: Wine Science. This decision brought, obviously, to a series of simple and straightforward consequences: Bachelor in Agriculture Sciences (University of Firenze, Italy), PhD in Wine Microbiology (University of Adelaide, Australia) and then Master in Wine Marketing (University of Piacenza, Italy). To complete the picture he also got a professional diploma as a Wine Sommelier. Wine consultant, cellar winemaker, export manager, sales agent, wine tour guide: there is not a single aspect of wine that he has not explored.
Claudia Tacchino: After graduating in Philosophy in 1998, she attended an MA – Master in Arts & Culture Management at SDA Bocconi in Milano, where she started her career as a teacher and researcher in Arts Management (1999-2015) and where she was appointed coordinator (2004-2008) and director (2009-2014) of an MA – Master in Performing Arts Management. In 2014 she spent a semester at New York University as visiting scholar. In 2015 she moved to Lake Iseo, where she started consulting Guido Berlucchi Winery in Franciacorta on hospitality management and events. She teaches Arts and Event Management at SantaGiulia Fine Arts Academy in Brescia, where she launched in 2019 a Master programme in Management of Arts, Heritage and Cultural Tourism. She has also attended the three-level training course to become a professional sommelier at AIS – Associazione Italiana Sommelier di Brescia.
Dates & Prices (*)
Fees 2022 – 2023
Fee: 8.390 euro Single room extra: 1.280 euro
(*) Per person with double occupancy.
The Fees include
- Wine expert Guide for the entire tour;
- Private transfers with driver and Mercedes Minivan for the entire tour;
- 14 winery guided tours;
- 13 nights in hotels, historical houses, charme hotels, boutique hotels, with overnight stay and breakfast;(**)
- 4 private lunches and wine tastings at the wineries, wines included;
- 7 lunches in Italian restaurants and fine “trattorias” of the local tradition;
- 1 Dinner Experience Ristorante 21.9 Flavio Costa (1 Michelin star) in Piobesi d’Alba;
- 1 dinner and wine tasting in a winery, wines included;
- 6 dinners in hotels, restaurants or fine “trattorias” of the local tradition;
- 1 Farewell Dinner in Milano, wines included;
- 9 wine tastings (tre wines each) at the wineries;
- 2 technical tastings guided by our sommelier wine expert;
- Guided tour of Amalfi and Ravello;
- Entrance and guided tour of Pompeii Archeological Site;
- Transfer with high speed train Napoli – Roma (1:15 h);
- Guided tour of the historic centre of Roma, entrance to Roman Forum included;
- Entrance and guided tour of Puccini Museum – Giacomo Puccini’s Birthplace in Lucca;
- Entrance and guided tour with Jeep 4×4 to the Carrara Marble Quarries;
- 1 outdoor walk through the Natural Park of Portofino with a certified Naturalistic Guide;
- 1 Outdoor Experience: truffle hunting at Alba with an expert and his dog;
- Boat Tour to the Borromean Islands (May-September);
- Entrance and guided tour of Isola Madre and Isola Bella – Lake Maggiore (May-September);
- Boat transfer from Stresa to Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage – Lake Maggiore (October-April);
- Entrance and guided tour of Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage – Lake Maggiore (October-April);
- Porterage service at the hotels;
- Italy Destination by Paltours assistance;
- Globy Incoming Insurance.
(**) Hotel details in the Tour Plan or similar of the same or superior category.
The Fees do not include
- Extra fee Lunch Experience Chef Enrico Crippa Ristorante Piazza Duomo Alba (three Michelin stars). Quotation on request.
- Everything not expressly mentioned in The Fees Include.
Food Special Needs
Italy Destination by Paltours staff will make any effort to guarantee food special needs. However, it may happen that they can not satisfy every single request. All the particular dietary requests have to be advanced along with the reservation.
Meeting Point
We will meet in the morning at the Roma Termini railway station.
Information and Reservations
Book your tour or ask for further information: info@italy-destination.it
Tel. +39 030 7400561
Payment
- Bank transfer
- Credit Card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express)
Payment Terms
- 25% deposit upon booking.
- Final payment 30 days before the date of departure.
Cancellation Policy
- More than 60 days before the date of departure: 100 euro.
- From 59 to 30 days before the date of departure: 25% of penalty;
- From 29 to 15 days before the date of departure: 50% of penalty;
- Less than 15 days before the date of departure: 100% of penalty.
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Departure
From Roma to Milano
# 14.1 – Itinerary of the Wine Tour: Rome to Milan (S10)
“Poles are planted between the long, low rows of vines, and the brown grapes hang gracefully from the top, ripening in the warmth of the soil below”. (J.W. Goethe, Italian Journey, 1786-1788).
Food & Wine, Art & Cultural Heritage, Nature & Outdoor, combined with the authenticity of places and people, will be at the heart of The Grand Wine Tour of Italy experience.
Day 1: Lazio | Roma
Roma, Le Ferriere and Gaeta
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour and private lunch and tasting at Casale del Giglio in Le Ferriere
Visit to the Roman Cryptoporticus at Villa Ireland in Gaeta
Private Technical Tasting Italian Rosé Classical Method in comparison
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Villa Irlanda in Gaeta
Here we go! We will meet in Roma to
move to Le Ferriere (LT) to visit the Casale del Giglio winery where we will have lunch at the family farmhouse. Casale del Giglio was founded in 1967 by Dr. Berardino Santarelli and is located in the Agro Pontino. This territory represented an environment to be explored from the point of view of viticulture. For this reason, the Casale del Giglio research and development project was launched in 1985, inspired by the wine-growing models practised in Bordeaux, Australia and California, which are comparable in terms of climate and soil characteristics. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and many others are the international grape varieties magnificently interpreted by these lands.
After lunch, transfer to the Hotel Villa Irlanda in Gaeta, accommodation in the reserved rooms and dinner at the hotel. The hotel is located on the ancient archaeological site of a Roman Villa with cryptoporticus, whose construction, dating back to the 1st century B.C., is said to have belonged to Marco Filippo, adoptive father of Emperor Octavian Augustus.
Before dinner, we will have a private technical tasting led by our wine expert. The focus of the meeting will be a tasting guide to Italian Classic Method rosé sparkling wines. Our sommelier will select a few wines for us from:
Among the wines from Lazio that we will taste during the day:
- Some of the Italian most interesting interpretations of international varieties.
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
Day 2: Lazio | Campania
Gaeta, Sorbo Serpico and Furore in the Amalfi Coast (UNESCO)
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour of the Feudi di San Gregorio winery in Sorbo Serpico
Tasting lunch at Marennà Restaurant (Michelin Guide)
Guided tour of the Marisa Cuomo Winery in Furore on the Amalfi Coast
Sea view tasting dinner at Hostaria di Bacco Furore
Overnight stay in sea view rooms at Bacco Furore Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Sorbo Serpico to visit the Feudi di San Gregorio winery with a tasting lunch at the Marennà Restaurant, noted by the Michelin guide for its quality cuisine, where the Chef offers creative tasting menus with references to the territory, in combination with the wines of the winery.
Feudi di San Gregorio is today an icon of the "Oenological Renaissance of Southern Italy" for its careful work in enhancing the value of native vines, the land and traditional Irpinian viticulture. It transcends the classic concept of the "cellar", turning it into "a place for meeting, confrontation, knowledge, meditation, a laboratory of ideas and culture, a place of welcome and refreshment". World-class professionals participated in the project: Japanese architect Hikaru Mori and Italian designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli.
After lunch, we will head to the beautiful Amalfi Coast where we will visit the Marisa Cuomo Winery in Furore. "The grapes that grow clinging to the rock of Furore are exposed to the magical action of the sun and the sea of the Amalfi Coast. In addition to the charm of the geometry of the winery's vineyards, there is the evocative cellar carved into the rock." At the end of the visit, dinner-tasting at the adjacent Hostaria di Bacco, splendidly overlooking the sea.
Overnight stay in the sea-view rooms of the Bacco Furore Hotel, a setting that surprises with its frescoed landscape. Opening the window of your room, you will find yourself projected from the green of the mountains to the blue of the sea of the Amalfi Coast.
Among the wines of Campania that we will taste during the day:
Day 3: Campania
Amalfi Coast (UNESCO), Pompeii (UNESCO) e Napoli (UNESCO)
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour of Amalfi and Ravello (UNESCO)
Lunch at the Raffaele Restaurant in Ravello
Guided tour at the Pompeii Archeological Site (UNESCO)
Overnight stay in sea view rooms at the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia in Naples
After breakfast we move on to Amalfi for a guided tour of the town. Overlooking the Amalfi Coast (UNESCO site) and dominated by the imposing Duomo di Sant'Andrea, Amalfi was one of the most powerful Maritime Republics between the 9th and 11th centuries and preserves wonderful monuments of Byzantine tradition.
We will move on to Ravello, the natural terrace on the Amalfi Coast, where we will have lunch at the Ristorante Raffaele, before continuing on to discover the ancient remains of Pompeii. We will be greeted by an authentic Roman City, destroyed and preserved at one time by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. We will relive the excitement of life at that time thanks to its domus, baths, marvellous frescoes and mosaics, amphitheatre and streets perfectly preserved since the tragic eruption. The Pompeii site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
At the end of the visit we will transfer to Naples, where we will be accommodated in sea view rooms reserved at the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia, on the city's seafront. The hotel was designed in 1906 by the famous architect Giovan Battista Comencini in the Art Nouveau style. From its balconies you can admire an unforgettable view of Naples, its gulf, the "smoking mountain" of Vesuvius and, in the foreground, the majestic Castel Dell'Ovo (UNESCO).
Dinner at your leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
Giorno 4: Campania | Lazio
Napoli (UNESCO) and Roma (UNESCO)
Private transfer with driver to Naples Central Station
Transfer to Roma Termini by high-speed train (1:15 h)
Guided walk in the centre of Rome and tour of the Roman Forum (UNESCO)
Lunch in the City at Il Collegio Restaurant
Dinner on the panoramic terrace of The Glam Hotel in Rome
Overnight stay at Boutique Hotel The Glam in the centre of Rome
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the station in Naples from where we will travel to Rome on a high-speed train.
The guide will meet us at the station and take us on a tour of the Eternal City, its Antiquities, including the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and some of its famous squares, including Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona, made unique by the imposing statues and fountains designed by the great artists of the Baroque and Neoclassicism.
We will stop for lunch at Il Collegio Restaurant, in the heart of Rome, and continue with a guided tour of the Imperial Forum. Strolling through the history of the Eternal City, we will arrive at The Glam Hotel, where we will settle into our reserved rooms. After some well-deserved relaxation, we will move to the hotel's magnificent panoramic terrace, where we will enjoy dinner overlooking the rooftops of Rome.
Overnight stay at Boutique Hotel The Glam, located in a prestigious period building.
Day 5: Lazio | Toscana
Roma (UNESCO), Grosseto and Castagneto Carducci
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour of Fattoria Le Pupille di Grosseto with private lunch and tasting
Guided tour with tasting at Campo alle Comete in Castagneto Carducci
Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Castagneto Carducci
Overnight stay at the Relais dei Molini in Castagneto Carducci
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Grosseto for a guided tour of Fattoria Le Pupille winery, which will conclude with a private lunch-tasting at the winery. Fattoria Le Pupille is located in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma and was established in 1985 in an old farmhouse.
The founder, Elisabetta Geppetti, transformed the family farm, which everyone called "Le Pupille", into a modern winery, realising, when she was only twenty years old, the potential of her land. Today Fattoria Le Pupille's wines are distributed in over forty countries around the world, including the United States.
At the end of lunch we will move to Castagneto Carducci for a visit to the Campo alle Comete Winery, a wine project of the Feudi di San Gregorio Group, which represents the fusion of the traditional wine-making philosophy of Southern Italy and that of Bolgheri in Tuscany, in the coastal area where Italy's most famous "Bordeaux blends" are produced.
In the late afternoon, we move to the Relais dei Molini, located in a hilly position on the Etruscan Coast and at the gateway to the picturesque Medieval streets of Castagneto Carducci. The Relais is set in an old farmhouse renovated in elegant Tuscan style and enjoys an extraordinary view over the sea and the surrounding countryside, dominated by olive groves and vineyards.
After settling into our reserved rooms, we will move into the heart of the village, where we will enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant in an atmosphere of times gone by.
Among the wines of Tuscany that we will taste during the day:
Day 6: Toscana
Castagneto Carducci and Lucca
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour of Tenuta Argentiera di Castagneto Carducci and private lunch and tasting in the winery
Guided tour of Puccini Museum - Birthplace of Giacomo Puccini in Lucca
Private technical tasting: the great reds of Tuscany
Overnight stay at Palazzo Rocchi in Lucca
After breakfast at the hotel we will reach the Tenuta Argentiera Winery in Castagneto Carducci for a guided tour and private lunch at the Estate, during which we will taste the Winery's prestigious Bolgheri wines while enjoying an unparalleled panorama of the Tuscan coast and hills.
Tenuta Argentiera dominates the Bolgheri landscape from a plateau two hundred metres above sea level. The beauty of the place blends with the functionality of a state-of-the-art wine cellar. The heart of the facility is the ageing cellar: under the arched ceiling, at a constant temperature of 16 degrees, 1200 French oak barriques store the wine in the final stage of refinement.
At the end of lunch we will transfer to Lucca, where we will immerse ourselves in another experience that is entirely Italian: the opera house of Giacomo Puccini, the famous composer who made the history of the Italian tradition of melodrama. Inside the city's fortified walls, we will visit the Puccini Museum, which houses historical objects and instruments, including the famous piano on which he composed his unfinished Turandot, one of the most performed operas in the world.
After a short walk through the historic centre, we will move to Palazzo Rocchi, a prestigious historical residence of great historical and cultural value, which will welcome us for the night. Located in the fascinating Piazza San Michele, next to the Basilica dedicated to the Archangel and the ancient Roman Forum. In the heart of Lucca's historic centre, Palazzo Rocchi is a wonderful example of conservative restoration and enhancement of an architectural asset that is an integral part of Italy's history.
The evening will begin with a private technical tasting conducted by our wine expert. The focus of the meeting will be on guiding the tasting of Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino.
Free dinner and overnight stay at Palazzo Rocchi.
Our sommelier will select some wines for us to taste during the technical tasting.
The wines can be selected from:
Among the wines of Tuscany that we will taste at the wineries:
Day 7: Toscana | Liguria
Lucca, Carrara Marble Quarries (UNESCO), Castelnuovo Magra and Camogli
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided visit to the Carrara Marble Quarries with 4x4 Jeep
Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Castelnuovo Magra
Guided tour of the Ca' Lunae winery in Castelnuovo Magra with wine tasting
Overnight stay in rooms with sea view at the Cenobio dei Dogi in Camogli
After breakfast at the hotel, we will reach Carrara to visit the Marble Quarries, an immersive and exciting experience that will take us into the heart of the mountains and history on board comfortable 4x4 Jeeps. From the peaks of the Apuan Alps to the marble basins at an altitude of 1,000 metres, a journey that will lead us to discover the place where Michelangelo chose the "perfect blocks" from which to create his sculptural masterpieces.
We will then move to Castelnuovo Magra, where, after lunch in a traditional restaurant, we will visit the Cantina Ca' Lunae, which will welcome us for a guided tour with wine tasting. The Cantina is located in an ancient rural complex dating back to the 18th century and was born from the vision of its founder, Paolo Bosoni, to create an area of research, development and hospitality where wine, food and wine and art could coexist.
We will then move on to Camogli, the pearl of the Ligurian Sea, where we will stay in the reserved rooms overlooking the sea at the Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi. The hotel is housed in an ancient palace from 1565, built into the rock by the aristocratic Dogi family. The Cenobio dei Dogi overlooks the enchanting Paradise Gulf, close to the Portofino Natural Park. Free dinner in Camogli.
Among the wines of Liguria that we will taste during the day:
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
Day 8: Liguria | Piemonte
Camogli, Portofino and Gavi
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Outdoor activities in the Portofino Natural Park
Wine cellar visit with tasting at the Wine Resort Villa Sparina in Gavi
Dinner at the Restaurant La Gallina inside the Resort
Overnight stay at the Charming Hotel L'Ostelliere inside the Resort
After breakfast at the hotel, we will dedicate the morning to outdoor activities. In the splendid setting of the protected natural area of the Portofino Natural Park, we will enjoy a pleasant walk in the nature, accompanied by a certified environmental excursionist guide, who will lead us to the discovery of the important naturalistic heritage of the Park and its biological and plant biodiversity. For long stretches, the view of the sea will be literally breathtaking.
After a free lunch in Portofino, we will leave in the direction of Gavi in Piedmont, where we will reach the Wine Resort Villa Sparina which, surrounded by 100 hectares of its own vineyards, will welcome us with a visit of the cellar and a tasting of their most representative Gavi and Barbera wines. We will stay inside the Resort for dinner at La Gallina Restaurant, characterized by a local cuisine, interpreted in a modern way through a careful research of raw materials. The vegetables come from the company's organic vegetable garden and the seasonal products from selected producers in Piedmont and Liguria. Overnight stay at the adjoining L'Ostelliere charming hotel.
Among the wines of Piedmont that we will taste during the day:
Day 9: Piemonte
Gavi, Canelli (UNESCO), Calamandrana and Monforte d'Alba
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour with wine tasting at Coppo di Canelli winery (UNESCO site)
Traditional lunch at Trattoria Del Belbo da Bardon (Michelin dish)
Guided tour with wine tasting at the Michele Chiarlo Winery in Calamandrana
Dinner at the Le Case della Saracca Restaurant in Monforte d'Alba (Michelin dish)
Overnight stay at the Charme Hotel Villa Beccaris in Monforte d'Alba
After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for Canelli (AT), to visit the historic Cantina Coppo winery. Founded in 1892, for four generations the mission has been the production of quality wines that embody the specificity of the territory, among which stand out the Barbera d'Asti, the Classic Method sparkling wine and the Moscato d'Asti. The search for quality, respect for the indigenous grapes, innovation that does not forget tradition and reliability are its founding values. The company's historic cellars, the so-called Underground Cathedrals, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, are a true temple dedicated to wine.
We will move to San Marzano Oliveto to have lunch in one of the most traditional trattorias of Asti, Trattoria Del Belbo Da Bardon, mentioned in the Michelin Guide for its quality cuisine, its centuries-old history and its interesting wine list.
In the afternoon we reach the Michele Chiarlo Winery in Calamandrana, for a visit and tasting of some of its most representative wines, including the famous Barolo. Michele Chiarlo wines represent the essence of Piedmont and are the expression of more than 110 hectares of vineyards, between Langhe, Monferrato and Gavi, particularly suited to the production of native wines of excellence, thanks to the microclimate and the mineral characteristics of the soil.
The evening will continue with a transfer to the heart of the Langhe and accommodation in the reserved rooms at the Hotel Villa Beccaris in Monforte d'Alba, a historic 18th-century residence.
Dinner will be a short walk from the hotel, at the Le Case della Saracca Restaurant, cited by the Michelin Guide for its quality local cuisine and its picturesque location between stone walls and hand-hewn caves in the medieval heart of Monforte d'Alba.
Among the wines of Piedmont that we will taste during the day:
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
Day 10: Piemonte
The Langa of Barolo (UNESCO)
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour with wine tasting at Cantina Ceretto in Alba
Lunch in the historic centre of Alba at Ristorante La Piola (*)
(*) Food Experience with Chef Enrico Crippa at Ristorante Piazza Duomo di Alba - three Michelin stars (as an alternative e with extra fee)
Overnight stay at Hotel Villa Beccaris in Monforte d'Alba
The day will be spent in one of the wine-growing areas recognised in 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Langa del Barolo.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will reach Alba, the "capital" of the Langhe, to visit the Ceretto Winery, a breathtaking location nestled in the heart of the Langhe vineyard hills. Ceretto is above all one of the historical producers of the area, which has made Barolo famous throughout the world. The important zoning studies carried out in the 1960s led the company to select and acquire the most suitable lands for the production of this wonderful wine and the result is that today the company boasts one of the most prestigious selections of Cru in the world.
We will reach the historic centre of Alba for lunch at the La Piola Restaurant, owned by the Ceretto Winery, where elegance and tradition come together for an authentic experience of Piedmontese cuisine.
Return to the hotel. Free dinner in Monforte d'Alba and overnight stay. Among the wines of Piedmont that we will taste during the day:
Day 11: Piemonte
The wine-growing landscapes of Langhe-Roero (UNESCO)
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Outdoor experience in search of the renowned Alba truffle
Lunch at Osteria La Via del Sale at Tenuta Carretta in Piobesi d'Alba
Guided tour with tasting of the Tenuta Carretta winery in Piobesi d'Alba
Food Experience with Chef Flavio Costa at Restaurant 21.9 in Piobesi d'Alba - One Michelin Star
Overnight stay at Albergo di Charme 21.9 in Piobesi d'Alba
One more day in the lands of Langhe-Roero, the wine-growing landscapes of Piedmont recognised in 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After breakfast at the hotel we will move to Canale (CN), where we will plunge into the woods in search of the renowned Alba truffle, expertly accompanied by the master trifulau and his trusty dog.
We will then reach Tenuta Carretta in Piobesi d'Alba, where we will have lunch at the prestigious Osteria La Via del Sale inside the structure. Accommodation in the rooms of the charming hotel on the estate.
The afternoon will continue with a visit to the winery and a tasting of some of the estate's most prestigious wines, including Roero Arneis and Barbera d'Alba. The Estate has a history of more than six centuries, as evidenced by the notarial deed that, in 1467, granted the land of "cassina Careta" to sharecroppers so that its vines could be pruned and cared for. The recent history of the Cantina dates back to 1947, the year in which the current winery was founded. The estate lies in the hilly area to the north of the town of Alba and is surrounded by 35 hectares of vineyards. To the south the Langhe hills extend, where the remainder of the vineyards are located, another 35 hectares.
The evening will conclude with an exclusive Food Experience at the 21.9 Restaurant, where Chef Flavio Costa (one Michelin star), will offer us an elegant tasting menu in a finely curated, elegant and refined location.
Overnight stay at the charming Hotel 21.9.
Among the wines of Piedmont that we will taste during the day:
Day 12: Piemonte
The Nebbiolo of Roero (UNESCO) and Gattinara
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Guided tour with tasting at Cascina Chicco in Canale
Lunch in a traditional restaurant
Guided tour with tasting at Travaglini Winery in Gattinara
Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel Regina Palace in Stresa
A morning in the heart of Roero (UNESCO) and a day discovering the different nuances of Nebbiolo. After breakfast at the hotel we will reach Cascina Chicco for a guided tour of the cellar with a tasting of some of the company's most characteristic wines, including the famous Roero and the innovative Nebbiolo sparkling wine made using the classic method. The Cascina owes its name to the tradition of the people of Roero and Langhe to give people a friendly nickname which was then used within the community. Chicco was the nickname of Ernesto Faccenda, founder of the company in 1950.
After the visit, we will stop at Cascina Chicco for a light lunch.
The afternoon will continue in the direction of Gattinara, which has written a special page in the history of Nebbiolo, thanks also to the important work of Cantina Travaglini. In 1958 Giancarlo Travaglini gave a viticultural and oenological turn to the Cantina founded in 1920 by Clemente Travaglini. He improved the methods of viticulture and the final quality of the product and, in the same year, patented the traditional Travaglini bottle or "crooked bottle", still famous in the world today. The family tradition continues today with the fifth generation.
At the end of the visit we will move to Lake Maggiore, one of the most beautiful places in Italy, where we will be accommodated in reserved rooms overlooking the sea at the Hotel Regina Palace in Stresa, magnificently overlooking Isola Bella and the shores of the lake.
Dinner at the hotel's lake-view restaurant.
Among the wines of Piedmont that we will taste during the day:
- Nebbiolo Metodo Classico
- Roero DOCG
- Gattinara DOCG
Day 13: Piemonte | Lombardia
Stresa, Lake Maggiore (UNESCO) and Milano
Private transfers with driver and wine expert guide
Tour of the Borromean Islands by boat (May-September)
Guided tour of Isola Bella and Isola Madre on Lake Maggiore (May-September)
Boat transfer on Lake Maggiore to the Hermitage of Santa Caterina (October-April)
Visit to the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso (October-April)
Lunch in a traditional restaurant on Lake Maggiore
Overnight stay at the Hotel Manin in Milano
After breakfast at the hotel, we set off to discover the beauty of Lake Maggiore. In harmony with the dance of the seasons, the day's programme will be as follows:
May - September: the morning will be spent on a boat on the lake discovering the Borromean Islands.
In particular, a stop on Isola Madre will give us the chance to appreciate the oasis of precious biodiversity preserved in the island's botanical gardens. We will then continue to Isola Bella, where we will visit the precious Borromeo Palace.
October - April: The morning will start with a lake experience. We will embark to reach the Lombard shore, from where our private transfer will take us to the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. Perched on a sheer cliff face overlooking the lake,
After lunch on the lake, we will transfer to Milan and settle in at the Hotel Manin. Free dinner and overnight stay.
Everything comes to an end, and the wonderful Grand Wine Tour of Italy adventure is also almost there. We will say goodbye with a farewell dinner in Milano.
Day 14: Lombardia | Milano
Goodbye and farewell!
End of tour
After breakfast at the hotel, you will return to your places of departure or continue to discover other wonderful destinations in Italy.
Discover the whole The Grand Wine Tour of Italy portfolio, departing from Milano, Bologna, Roma, Napoli
Location
Lazio, Campania, Toscana, Liguria, Piemonte, Lombardia, 25 destinations, 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 31 official wine denominationsoni vitivinicole, ... km in 14 giorni