Taste of Piedmont
October 22 - October 31st, 2010
By the Glass tours are small group tours. To ensure maximum attention to our clientele we offer our tours to no more than 14 people per tour. We typically utilize 9 passenger touring vans with a maximum of 7 guests per van. Accommodations range from standard hotels but often utilize villas as they enhance the small group atmosphere we are striving for. Tours are designed to avoid the rigidity of the bus tour mentality and provide a convivial environment that is relaxing and entertaining.
Tour Cost
$3695/person (double occupancy, land only) Single supplement – 18%
Inquiries/Reservations: info@winebytheglass.ca, call 902-488-9959
Experience the scents and flavours of Piedmont – the residence and soul of Italy’s slow food movement and home of some of Italy’s greatest wine styles including Barolo, Barbaresco, Ghemme, Gattinara, Barbera D’Alba, Moscato d’Asti and many more. This 9-day, 9-night tour will be led by our resident Italian expert and sommelier, Alanna McIntyre, who lived in the region for many years before returning to Canada (Piedmontese husband in tow). This tour is designed for the food and wine lover alike as you will enjoy cooking classes well as wine tastings and tours at some of Piedmont’s most famous producers as well as small artisanal producers whose product is in such demand it rarely makes its way across the Atlantic.
Includes
- 9 nights’ accommodation
- 9 breakfasts
- 5 lunches
- 9 dinners
- 3 cooking classes
- 3+ winery visits + 4 additional wine tastings
- all transportation included and is led by a By the Glass tour specialist.
Does not include meals or drinks not specified in itinerary. Itinerary, subject to modification.
Itinerary
Friday October 22 – Welcome to Piedmont
You will be greeted at the Turin airport(Turin International Airport Caselle) by your hosts for the week. We’ll stop at Eataly for lunch. In this unique environment, you’ll have the opportunity to try from over 100 different dishes from eight themed restaurants. There will be time to wander the stalls, where you might pick up some speciality food items to take home. Then it is off to the nearby La Locanda della Maison Verte in Cantalupa, where you’ll have time to check into your room before enjoying a relaxing meal at the hotel.
Saturday October 23 – Cooking Class
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make our way to the open air market in Pinerolo to pick up produce for our mid morning cooking class at the Portico di S.A.M where we learn about local Piemontese cuisine. We’ll enjoy lunch from the fruits of our own labour before being transferred to the Langhe region. En route, we’ll stop into the Agrigelateria San Pé in Poirino to taste one of the best gelato’s you will ever have. After driving through the Piedmontese countryside, you’ll arrive at Agriturismo Val di Spinso, your home for the week. Your By the Glass sommelier guide will lead you on a tasting of Piedmontese wine before dinner at the villa.
Sunday October 24 – Bring on the Barolo!
Bring on the Barolo! We’re off to the heart of the Piedmont red wine country. First stop is the Enoteca Regionale del Barolo where we will also have time to explore the corkscrew museum and perhaps an early taste of wine at a local enotocca. Next stop is Fontanafredda for a tour and lunch at this established Barolo producer. We’ll collect some regional wine on the day and have a glorious meal prepared for the group at the villa.
Monday October 25th Alba & Pio Cesare
Alba is one of the world’s food and wine meccas. Beyond its location in heart of wine country, the town is full of culture and history and boasts an impressive array of medieval castles, palaces, towers and churches that reflect the town’s many occupants which have included Romans, Celts, Ligurians, Burgundians, Lombards and Franks. You’ll have time to explore the town and on your own and have an early lunch before we visit Pio Cesare for a winery tour and tasting. Pio Cesare consistently makes some of the best Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera. Many of its wines regularly score more than 90 pts from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker. After a day indulging in the best of Piedmontese wines we’ll enjoy cooking class and supper at the villa.
Tuesday October 26th – Ascheri Vineyards
After a night of dining on local cuisine and local wine you’ll have the option to lounge at the villa or join the group on a quick jaunt to Castello di Grinzane and Cavour for some wine tasting or stroll through the museum that is a tribute to local food and wine. We’ll return to the villa for lunch and get ready for a great afternoon of food and drink. We’ll start by visiting nearby Bra; home to Ascheri Vineyards and Cellars for a tour and tasting before heading to the neighbouring Osteria Muri Vecchie for dinner.
Wednesday October 27th - Asti and Acqui Terme
This morning we travel to Asti, Alba’s historic rival town and home to the sweet and frothy Moscato d’Asti. Spend the morning walking about the historic centre or sipping a glass Moscato in a cafébefore heading to our lunch destination at Madonna della Neve. Post lunch we make our way to the town of Aqui Terme, famous for its natural hot sulphur springs. Here you are free to shop at the many boutiques, taste wine at an enotecca or partake in a spa treatment (extra charge). We’ll dine at the villa and enjoy a night of pure relaxation. If you want to learn more about local cuisine, you can join the chef to learn how the meal was made.
Thursday, October 28th - Torino
We’re off to Torino, Piedmont’s business and cultural capital. You’ll be free to tour this bustling city, where you might choose to walk alongside the river Po or visit one of the many galleries or many museums such as the Egyptian museum. We’ll gather together in the early afternoon, as we have a glorious afternoon and evening planned at La Maggiorana – the culinary school in nearby Rivoli.
Friday, October 29th – Langhe, Banca del Vino & Microbrews
We have a full days activities. We’ll begin with a trip to Verdunno for some views of the Langhe and sample of Pellaverga. Then we are off to the Laboratorio artigianale di pasticceria di Musso Domenico (use IGP Hazelnuts) for pastry shopping. Following a taste of a morning pastry we’ll make our way to the University of Gastronomic Sciences (Pollenzo) for a tour, tasting and lunch.After indulging in the bestof Piedmontese wine we’ll dine tonight at arguably Italy’s best microbrewery; Casa Baladin .
Saturday, October 30th
We start the day with a visit to the basilica Sacra di San Michele, located high atop Mount Pirchiriano. Here you can revel in the spectacular beauty of this abbey that dates to the 10th century. Others may simply sit in awe of the magical views of the Val Susa. Bring your camera this is a stop that will fill your photo album. We’ll have a quick pizza for lunch, then head to Guido Castagna’s Atelier del Ciocolato for a chocolate making workshop. After indulging in chocolate we’ll have a final dinner to recount the tales of our journey in the food and wine mecca that is Piedmont.
Sunday, October 31st
Your guides will deliver you to the Turin airport, ensuring a safe start to your journey home.