Wines & Food of Piedmont, Cinque Terre & Tuscany

Whether you are flying into Turin or Milan, a driver will be waiting to meet you on your arrival and bring you to your hotel in the center of Turin.

In the afternoon, a guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a walking tour of the city to discover royal palaces and some of the city's famous sweets, like gianduja chocolates, baci di dama cookies or il bicerin, the city's signature coffee made from espresso, chocolate and cream!

Evening and dinner on your own.

Overnight in Turin.

After breakfast at the hotel, your private driver will arrive to take you to the Langhe wine region.  Here you will discover two of the regions most famous wine-producing areas: Barolo and Barbaresco.

Both wines are produced from Nebbiolo, a grape native to the Piedmont region.  High in tannins, Nebbiolo wines are traditionally aged for years until the tannins soften to reveal other flavors for which the wines are so revered.

Before arriving in Barolo, you will drive through the beautiful hillsides where Nebbiolo grapes are bathed in just the right sunshine for Barolo production.  In the town you will visit the Marchesi di Barolo winery where you will visit the historic cellars and learn about producing Barolo wine.  Taste Barolo DOCG, Barolo DOCG Riserva, Dolcetto di Alba DOC, Moscato d’Asti DOGC and Asti Spumante DOC, along with traditional products of the area.

Next you will visit one of Italy’s many family-run vineyards, where you will receive a warm welcome from the Marrone family.  From the terrace, enjoy wonderful views over the Barolo Valley while tasting different wines with local cheeses, meats and typical snacks.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive at your hotel where you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

Overnight in Alba.

Today will be dedicated to the Barbara wine region.  Barbara grapes are found throughout Italy, from northern Piedmont all the way down to Sicily.  Barbara blends, the best of which are said to come from the limestone slopes you will visit today, range from the light and fruity, to more intense, aged wines.

Your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you first to the Coppo winery, where the Coppo family have been making wine since 1892.  The highlight of the morning will undoubtedly be the visit to the cellars, which extend over 5000 square meters and up to 40m deep.  These ‘underground cathedrals’ are so unique that they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014.  The tour will conclude with a tasting of 3 riserva wines: a Barbera d’Asti, a Chardonnay, Riserva Coppo (spumante) and the sweet, sparkling Moscato d’Asti DOCG.

Stopping in the town of Asti, you will have some time to visit the town and have lunch at your leisure, before meeting your driver again at a pre-arranged spot.

In the afternoon, there will be more wine tasting at the Marchesi Alfieri winery.  Home to the wine-producing Alfieri Family since 1696, the estate is centered around the historic 17^th century castle.  You will tour the gardens, orangery, castle and cellars, before tasting some of the wines, including the award-winning Barbara d’Asti, Barbara d’Asti Superiore and the sparkling Blanc de Noir.

Return to your hotel for the evening.

Overnight in Alba.

This morning bid farewell to the Alba hills as the tour heads south towards the narrow region of Liguria.

To break the journey, there will be a stop in Gavi and a chance to taste one of Italy's most popular, and internationally renowned, white wines: Cortese di Gavi (or simply 'Gavi').  Although still in Piedmont, you will find that the characteristics of 'Gavi' have more in common with the fruity whites of Liguria, than the wines of Piedmont.  

The wine tasting will follow a tour of the cellars of the La Scolca vineyard, and will include both Gavi DOCG and a sparkling Gavi.

Finally leaving Piedmont, you will arrive in the delightful fishing village of Camogli in time for lunch.  Lacking the name recognition of Portofino and Cinque Terre, is it easy to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and laid-back charm of this beautiful town, whether you decide on a seafood lunch on the seafront or delicious foccacia as you wander the streets.

Portofino is the next port of call.  You will have free time here to admire the colorful houses, the luxury yachts that line the harbor and the work of local artisans that fills the shops. 

Later in the afternoon, the final stop of the day will be in Rapallo, where you will spend the next 2 nights.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

The day will start early with breakfast at the hotel, before taking the train along the beautiful coast of the Italian Riviera to the village of Manarola.  You will have some time to explore on your own or to enjoy the stunning views over coffee, before learning to make Liguria’s signature dish.

Discover the art of making pesto by crushing fragrant basil leaves together with fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts and hard cheese in a pestle and mortar and why this ancient art can never be successfully replicated by modern technology.  Once your sauce is prepared, sit down to a well-deserved lunch of pasta al pesto and a glass of the local wine.

Departing Manarola by ferry, you will arrive in the village of Vernazza, thought by many to be the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre.  Here you can enjoy the colored houses from the beach, or wander up into the winding streets.

The final stop on the ferry will be Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five villages, where a driver will meet you for the drive up to the Sassarini vineyard.  Throughout the day you will have seen vines growing precariously on manmade terraces up the cliffs.  Wine production here is an arduous process, which is done entirely by hand. Much of the wine produced here is white, but there are also some reds, as well as the local nectar, the sweet Sciacchetrà DOC, which is made from the best grapes, grown closest to the sea.

In the late afternoon, return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure in Rapallo.

Overnight in Rapallo.

NB: a moderate amount of walking is required

Leaving Liguria behind, today you will arrive in Tuscany, the last region on your tour. 

Your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the charming, walled town of Lucca, where you will have free time for lunch on your own and to visit the town.  Relax in the central Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, walk the ancient walls or climb the Guinigi Tower for a great view across the city and surrounding countryside.

After lunch your journey will continue down to Pisa, where again you will have time to visit the town and to climb the famous tower before it is time to move further into Tuscany and the Chianti region.

Overnight in Chianti.

Today will start with an early breakfast and a special walk in the countryside.  Starting with an introduction to the precious and mysterious truffle, you’ll accompany a professional truffle hunter and their dogs out into the woods in search of truffles.  When the dogs sniff out one of these fragrant tubers, your job is to help them dig it up! 

Next stop will be the kitchen, where you will learn to make a traditional Tuscan meal, including homemade pasta with a seasonal sauce, a main course and dessert.  The cooking class will conclude with your wonderful, homemade lunch and a glass of the local wine.

In the afternoon you will visit some of the delightful towns for which the Chianti region is so famous.  Towns like Greve in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti are great places for a relaxing stroll and a little shopping, without the crowds that dominate the region’s better-known towns.

Overnight in Chianti.

Your tour today will include 2 of Tuscany’s most famous towns: Siena and San Gimignano. 

Following breakfast at the villa, you will meet your local guide in Siena.  Together you will visit the town’s main square, the Piazza del Campo, which hosts the famous Palio di Siena each summer, visit the world’s oldest bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena where you will learn about the importance of Siena as a financial and political center and discover its artistic and architectural heritage.  A highlight of the tour will undoubtedly be the Romanesque-Gothic duomo, whose distinctive black and white stripes celebrate the city’s colors.  Along the way, don’t miss the chance to stop in one of pasticcerie to try some of the delicious dolci sensi like panforti, ricciarelli and cavallucci.

Lunch will be at a winery in the countryside surrounding San Gimignano and will include tastings of the wines and olive oil produced here.  The tasting will include Chianti DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG and Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, as well as Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a rare example of a Tuscan white.

Following lunch, you will have time on your own in San Gimignano to explore the Medieval streets and the 14 surviving towers, which gives it its distinctive, Medieval skyline.

Overnight in Chianti.

The final day of wine exploration will be in the UNESCO protected Orcia Valley.  Starting with a walk in the lovely town of Montalcino, dominated by a Medieval fortress, which today houses the enoteca della Fortezza di Montalcino, a favorite stop for wine lovers looking to try the best of the local Brunello di Montalcino.

Your visit to the Altasino Winery will begin with a tour of the wine cellars, followed by lunch on their terrace, with stunning views across the valley, accompanied, naturally, by a selection of their wines.

The afternoon will be dedicated to Montepulciano, the most famous of the towns in the valley.  Much of the town is pedestrianized, which makes it a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll.  Though the streets are all uphill, you will have free time to go at your own pace and visit the many beautiful shops on the way, before the group meets again in the central square at the top of the town for your final wine tasting at Cantina da Ricci*.  Claiming to be the most beautiful wine cellar in the world, the visit begins with a descent through the ancient cellars, built to resemble a Gothic cathedral.  In the tasting room at the bottom, learn about Italy’s first DOCG wine, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, which you will taste along with Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, Tuscany’s sweet dessert wine, which is traditionally served with dry cantucci biscuits.

Overnight in Chianti.

*a moderate amount of walking is required, including uphill

This morning your driver will take you to Florence airport for your flight home.