Join us in 2010 on a special Italian Autumn Food and Wine Trip, culminating in a visit to Europe’s biggest gastronomic event of 2010 – Slow Foods ‘Salone del Gusto’. The 11 day itinerary includes stays in the extraordinary towns and cities of Orvieto; San Gimignano; and Florence as well as venturing into the heart of 3 of Italy’s most acclaimed food and wine regions – Umbria; Tuscany; and Piedmont. The trip highlight, ‘Salone del Gusto’ takes place in the gracious and elegant city of Turin. A biennial event, the festival welcomes local and international ‘foodies’ eager to participate and enjoy an enormous market filled with pleasures for the palate. Slowly you will discover distinctly different regions steeped in history and nature, traditional food and wine flavours, Classic hilltop towns, World Heritage Centre listed places of importance and passionate people. You will experience the best of Italy’s food and wine culture. Trip Highlights:
- Staying in Italy’s extra-ordinarily beautiful places of Orvieto, San Gimignano, and Florence
- Visit to Europe’s biggest and most important food and wine event – ‘Salone del Gusto’
- Immersing in the best of Italian Countryside – Tuscany and Piedmont
- Tasting Italy’s famous wines of Southern Piedmont
- Experiencing the diversity and quality of Italian cuisine
About Slow Food
Slow Food is an International movement born to protect traditional foods and ways of eating. In essence, it is a backlash against ‘fast-food’ culture. Not surprising the organisation started in Italy (Bra – Piedmont) and today has grown to having over 100,000 world-wide members. In the true spirit of Italian eating and drinking it believes that nothing gives more pleasure than good food and wine in equally good company and that everybody has the right to enjoy ‘the pleasures of the table’. About ‘Salone del Gusto’
Europe is home to many important and memorable food events. But none more so than Slow Food’s ‘Salone del Gusto’. This 4-day biennial event attracts over 40,000 foodie’s all eager to share and taste the wonderful array of artisanal food and wine products on offer. In particular over 300 selected artisan food producers have stalls in a dedicated Italian market area giving unlimited opportunity for individuals to sample the many ‘tastes’ of Italy. The International Market area also provides many wonderful and unique tasting opportunities, including the popular ‘Beer Lane’ devoted to micro-breweries from all around the World. For wine enthusiasts’ the ‘Salone del Gusto’ Enoteca has well over 1,000 International wines for tasting. ITINERARY - Italy – 10 nights/ 11 days Day 1: Tuesday 12th October - Arrival Orvieto, Umbria
Arrive independently at Umbrian hilltop town of Orvieto, our base for next 2 nights. Resting on a table-top of volcanic tufa, it is one of Italy’s most ancient towns. Today it is also part of a consortium of other Italian towns recognised as Slow Cities. Slow Cities aim to preserve the best of the traditional way of life. In particular they act upon the idea that improving quality of life means cultivating respect for traditional wine and food. We stay in a 4 star hotel situated in the historical centre, a stones throw from the Cathedral – arguably Italy’s finest. On our first evening we are treated to a guided orientation of the town followed by welcoming drinks and dinner at a convivial champagne bar in the historic centre.
Accommodation: Hotel Maitani
Meals: D Day 2: Wednesday 13th October - Umbrian Cooking
The cuisine of Umbria is well worth discovering. Today we participate in a cooking session dedicated to some of the areas delicious food specialities. This relaxed and hand’s on culinary session is facilitated in a typical countryside residence not far from Orvieto, and includes lunch with wines.
Later in the afternoon we transfer back to our accommodation in Orvieto where the remainder of the day is free.
Meals: B, L Day 3: Thursday 14th October – San Gimignano, Tuscany
Transfer to the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano – our base for the next 2 nights. This medieval hilltop town is one of the Italy’s most memorable places with its 13 towers dominating the skyline. Just as memorable is the countryside surrounding the town that has joyfully benefited from its sharecropping civilization.
We stay in the centre of the town – the historical Piazza della Cisterna – in a charming 3 star hotel that was a palace from the 11th Century.
Accommodation: Hotel Leon Bianco
Meals: B, L Day 4: Friday 15th October – Countryside Walk
The day is dedicated to discovering the town of San Gimignano. For those with a little more energy there is the option of a guided countryside walk that offers outstanding viewings of San Gimignano’s dominant towers. We complete the day with a classic Tuscan dinner enjoyed within the historical walls and atmospheric walkways of San Gimignano.
Meals: B; D
Day 5: Saturday 16th October - The Chianti
Today we depart the Tuscan countryside for the city of Florence – our base for the next 3 nights. On the way we discover the territory of the Chianti, and historical countryside area stretching from Florence to Siena. Our excursion features a wine tasting in the cellars of Fattoria Casaloste and traditional chiantigiana cooking from the rustic Cantinetti di Rignana, one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets. We arrive late afternoon in Florence at our 3-star accommodation, situated in the leafy area south of the river Arno that is home to many of Florences’ most prestigious Villa’s and gardens.
Accommodation: Classic Hotel
Meals: B, L Day 6: Sunday 17th October - Florence Cooking
This morning we participate in a cooking class and lunch conducted by local expert, using foods and wines from local markets. The session is relaxed and informal allowing participants to involve themselves in the cooking as much or as less as they would like. At the completion of the morning food and wine offerings there will be no further scheduled activities for the remainder of the day – leaving time for personal shopping and cultural experience.
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Monday 18th October – Florence’s Markets
Florence’s abundant Markets and speciality food shops reflect the cities obsession with food. Today we participate in a guided tour of ‘its best’ and ‘most historical’ gastronomic places.
Highlights of the tour will be a visit to Mercato Centrale Market and as we are in Florence – one of its best Gelateria (a favourite of the locals).
Meals: B
Day 8: Tuesday 19th October – Piedmonts Gastronomic Countryside
Transfer from Tuscany to Piedmont – 3 nights in a 4 star hotel in the Southern countryside of Piedmont. This area is renowned for its devotion to the gastronomic arts – producing magnificent red wines and sparkling white wines and rich, elegant, and elaborate cuisine.
We stay in a former 15th century aristocracy castle, set in an English style park. On our first evening at our hotel we are introduced to the piemontese table with a welcome dinner of typical specialities of the region.
Accommodation: Castello Rosso
Meals: B, D
Day 9: Wednesday 20th October – Wine and Truffles
Today we immerse in the gastronomically rich countryside of southern Piedmont. In particular we discover the best of its autumn flavours – visiting the pretty hilltop town of Alba and its annual truffle fair as well as the wine-growing area of the Barolo – considered by many to be Italy’s best wine. The excursion includes lunch on the estate of a leading Barolo wine maker. In the evening we experience another dinner of delicious piemontese specialities prepared in the Ristorante of our accommodation.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Thursday 21st October - Salone del Gusto
Following breakfast we transfer to Piedmont’s capital Turin to participate in the trip highlight food and wine event – ‘Salone del Gusto’. Stepping through the doors of Lingotto the old fiat factory of Turin, you will be met with row upon row of Italy’s finest foods along with an enoteca with thousands of wines uncorked for tasting. Also on offer will be several hundred taste workshops and a ‘Theatre of Taste’ where famous chefs cook for an enraptured audience. In the early evening we return to the comfort and tranquillity of our accommodation, whereby we enjoy a final nights dinner together.
Meals: B, D
Day 11: Friday 22nd October - End of Trip
Following breakfast is the departure transfer to Milan/ End of Trip
Meals: B This tour is based on a minimum of 8 participants
F&WT10_Booking Form.pdf
ItalyFood&Winetrip.pdf |