Valdorcia (Siena) + Lucca, Tuscany
AUTUMN HARVEST: Grain and Grape
13-27
September
2014
(13-night tour)
Price per person 4.395,00 euro
HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR
in collaboration with Sapori e Saperi
A tour for wine enthusiasts—whether you're a connoisseur or amateur, this is your chance to discover new Italian wines. From the famous regions of Montepulciano and Montalcino to the lesser known Colline Lucchesi and Gattinara, you'll get to meet and talk to excellent small winemakers as you taste their wines from the barrel and the bottle, and contribute to the next vintage by picking grapes.
In Italy wine accompanies food — grains and cheese are the basics. September is the time of the rice harvest in Piedmont and Lombardy, regions rich in food traditions including one of the world's noble blue cheeses, Gorgonzola, once known as 'the cheese of the devil'. Parmesan and pecorino, durum wheat, 8-row maize and farro are other stars of the tour, who you'll get to know along with their artisan producers.
Join a small group of only 8 to 10 wine-drinking foodies for an unparalleled journey from southern Tuscany to northeast Piedmont.
4 regions
- Tuscany
- Emilia-Romagna
- Lombardy
- Piedmont
11 wine experiences
- Visit Nobile di Montepulciano vineyard, tour cellar, taste from the barrel
- With owner tour Chianti vineyard and cellar and taste his wines
- Visit Brunello di Montalcino vineyard and taste wines with sommelier
- Dinner with historical food and wine pairing
- Lunch at restaurant with one of Italy's top sommeliers
- Pick grapes at biodynamic vineyard, and taste from barrel with owner
- Lunch with vineyard owner's family
- Dinner with typical dishes of Parma paired with local Lambrusco wine
- Visit vineyards, cellar and taste wines at small Gattinara DOCG vineyard
- Lunch at vineyard: traditional dishes paired with wines
- Visit cellar and taste wines at larger family Gattinara DOCG vineyard
11 grain experiences
- Visit farmer who grows durum wheat for pasta
- Visit remains of water mills
- Visit farm and make focaccia in wood-fired oven
- Make pizzas for pizza party
- Visit farmer of primitive maize and see how it's ground into flour for polenta
- Bake Garfagnana potato bread with village baker
- Learn about farro (primitive emmer wheat) and see the farro-polishing machine
- Lunch based on traditional Garfagnana farro recipes
- Visit small modern rice farm, watch harvest and polishing of rice
- Lunch consisting of traditional dish using rice from the farm
- Visit traditional rice farm and help harvest the rice
4 cheese experiences
- Demonstration of making pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) and ricotta
- Watch parmigiano being produced and tasting
- Visit parmigiano aging warehouse
- Tasting at cheese maker of gorgonzola, dolce latte and taleggio
4 cooking lessons
- Pici of Siena
- Pasta al forno (lasagne)
- Pastry
- Risotto al gorgonzola
City sightseeing
Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Arezzo, Barga, Parma, Vigevano
Other activities
- Thermal bath at Bagno Vignoni (not included in price of tour)
- See how balsamic vinegar is made in a family attic
- Tasting of goose salami of Mortara
- Visit Loro Piana outlet shop
period
13 - 27 September 2014
(13 night tour)
price
PRICE PER PERSON:
Euro 4.395,00 -
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
Euro 650,00
price includes
• 13 nights in welcoming, relaxing accommodation, en
suite bathrooms
• Local ground transportation for 14 days
• Daily continental breakfast, 9 lunches, 13 dinners
• Entrance to wine tastings, cooking lessons, guided visits with producers
does not include
• Airfares
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Spa treatments
• Wine and drinks, other than those served with
meals, additional meals
• Personal expenses such as telephone, mini-bar, etc.
