There are few places in the world as associated with fine dining as Italy. It is a nationality defined by its love of the gourmet and lovingly prepared, with its culinary contributions tied to generations of tradition, heritage, and culture. Explore some of the cornerstones of Italian flavor sensibility on this mouth-watering tour of Italia. Visit some of the most important vineyards in the world, sipping their wares along the way. Learn the proper way to test a wheel of cheese and hand-roll fresh pasta. Savor the sweet perfection of desserts prepared with ancient techniques. Learn what it truly means to have great taste in travel.
Degree of Difficulty –
Depart on your overnight flight to Milan, Italy, where you’ll be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel, an 18th century farmhouse complex in the Gavi countryside. Enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers tonight. VILLA SPARINA RESORT.
Meals Aloft (D)
Your Content Goes HereaAfter breakfast, depart to one of the oldest wineries in Italy, the Castello Gabiano winery. The Marquises Cattaneo Adorno Giustiniani have wine for four centuries. You will tour the lands and visit the cellars, enjoying a tasting of this famous regional wine along with gourmet pairings. Continue to Costigliole D’Asti and the Boeri Alfonso winery, which specializes in Barbera d’Asti Superiore. Taste some of the finest Italian Barbera and learn about the family that has produced it for over 100 years. In the late afternoon, stop by the 18th century amaretti bakery Moriondo Virginio in Mombaruzzo, where you’ll have the opportunity to sample some of the bakery’s most popular specialities. VILLA SPARINA RESORT.
(B,L,D)
Start the day at the Azienda Agricola Brezza. The Brezzas believe that the best way to maintain the unique characteristics of their wines is to be in constant harmony with the land, which is why they pick their grapes by hand and are currently developing organically-farmed vineyards. In the afternoon, stop in Asti, to visit one of the most famous manufacturers of Torrone (nougat), Torrone Barbero 1808. Tour the factory, learning about historical confectionary methods, and of course tasting the sweets produced here. The remainder of your evening will be at leisure. VILLA SPARINA RESORT.
(B,L)
Travel to Polesine Parmense, one of the most famous farmsteads for the production of Culatello, a cured ham similar to prosciutto. The Antica Corte Pallavicina was built in the beginning of the fifteenth century and offers fabulous cellars in which meats are cured, cheeses are aged, and wines are stored. Visit the kitchen garden, the Corte, the frescoed rooms, and the old cellars before indulging in a tasting of all this farmstead has to offer. Next, continue to La Cantina Paltrinieri, a winery steeped in the old methods, known for their production of Lambrusco di Sorbara. Spend the evening in the commune of Reggio Emilia at the historic Hotel Posta. HOTEL POSTA.
(B,L,D)
Tour the areas that produce two of the most famous products of Italy, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Aceto Balsamico vinegar. First, visit the dairy farm of the Consorzio Vacche Rosse (red cows), where the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano di Vacche Rosse is produced. Learn the different steps that make this cheese unique, participate in an evaluation of some cheese wheels with the customary small hammer, and of course, enjoy a tasting of the cheeses produced here. Then, travel to the nearby village of Guastalla, where you’ll indulge in a cooking lesson taught by Cristina Boschi, the niece of the Countess Casanova. While you learn to make pasta, you will be regaled by stories of this place and the people who lived here. Emilia Romagna is the main region in Italy where Pasta is still home-made on a daily basis. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and explore the farmhouse, meeting the friendly livestock. After lunch, you’ll head to the balsamic vinegar producer Acetaia Valeri where you’ll view the “batterie” of small barrels filled with this sublime product. Continue to Chianti and your charming hotel. BORGO SCOPETO RELAIS.
(B,L,D)
Pass through the rolling hills of Chianti en route to Radda and the historic Castelvecchi vineyard, known for both its cellars and the castle on the premises. The majority of the vines here are over 50 years old, twining through the heart-shaped vineyard. Explore the thousand-yearold wine cellar of Borgo Castelvecchi and enjoy a tasting of some of the incredible wines produced here. Next up is the Castello Brolio, the palatial home of the Barone Ricasoli family. Enjoy a private tour of the estate and gardens, followed by a tasting in a private room. The tour concludes with dinner at the family’s esteemed restaurant, with views of the grounds around you. BORGO SCOPETO RELAIS.
(B,L,D)
Today indulge in the sumptuous surroundings of one of Tuscany’s oldest agricultural estates, the Renaissance-era winery of Vignamaggio. The estate overlooks a countryside panorama of forests, vineyards, and ancient villages on the surrounding hills. At the core of the vineyard is the Renaissance villa, surrounded by Italian gardens in between rows of cypresses, vines, and olive trees. Visit the winery, followed by a four-course dinner and paired wine tasting. Everything on the menu is seasonal and freshly harvested from the estate’s own vegetable garden. BORGO SCOPETO RELAIS.
(B,L,D)
Enjoy a walking tour of Montepulciano terminating at the De Ricci winery in the historic city center, which boasts the “most beautiful wine cellar in the world.” After a tour and tasting, you will have some free time to explore Montepulciano and have lunch at one of its charming cafes. In the afternoon, continue to Montalcino and one of the most historically significant wineries in the world, Cinelli Colombini, which produces the highly sought-after Brunello di Montalcino wine. Taste the top rated Brunello. Next is Casato Prime Donne, the only winery in Italy with a staff comprised solely of women. It has received awards and prizes for its wines and for having contributed to a greater presence of women in the world of wine. Tour the winery and enjoy the outdoor art collection by some impressive names in the art world, before settling into the cozy tasting hall to soak up the Tuscan ambience. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner with your fellow travelers. BORGO SCOPETO RELAIS.
(B,L,D)
Time to say arriverderci to Italy as you transfer to Florence airport for your flight home.
Prices vary by season and package. Please inquire by phone at (800) 627-1244 or email info@classicescapes.com for more information and a pricing estimate.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:
- All ground transfers and excursions in private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach.
- Continental breakfast daily, a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner and other meals as per itinerary. (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
- Wine tastings, cooking class, and visits to Balsamic Vinegar and Cheese production as per itinerary.
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- All museum and attraction entry fees indicated on itinerary.
- Porterage for baggage handling.
- Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.
- Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
With so many Italian offerings, you must wonder when is a good time to travel. Here’s a synopsis.
- On our National Parks program, the parks are only accessible because of weather conditions during the summer months with best time being mid-July through September, which is also quite sunny, hot and gorgeous for water activities. Our program does include opportunities to experience the great outdoors and beautiful grottoes, from the mountains of central Italy to Rome and
Naples. - The Umbria Jazz Festival takes place every year in July and also in December. The program can be offered year-round as it covers a picturesque part of Italy, but if music is your passion, then it needs to be in July or December.
- The Verdi festival is in October and Puccini in September. Here, too, you can offer the programs year-round, but Italy, in general, is best visited in April-June and September/October, in order to avoid heat and also crowds.
- Similarly, the Venice & Verona program features Opera; the Verona Music Festival takes place from end of June through the end of August and some performances will also take place at the renowned Fenice Theatre in Venice. The program can be offered year-round if music is not the main feature.
- The South of Italy and the archaeological sites can be visited at any time, although best months would be April-June and September-October to avoid the heat of the summer. The temperatures during this time would be in the 70’s ideal weather for viewing the temples, or visiting the beach, or hiking. The summer months could see temperatures in triple digit, and the winter months would be in the 50’s.
- The rest of our programs are best in April-June and September/October for the reasons stated above, particularly avoiding the heat, especially if the program includes hiking.
