Brunetti and Italian Immersions invite you on a 13 day itinerary which will experience the extraordinary city of Florence; the classic hilltop town of Orvieto; famous wine-trails of Tuscany and Piedmont; and a visit to one of the most important food and wine events on the international calendar - Cheese 2009.
Slowly you will discover places steeped in history and nature; traditional food and wine flavours; classical countryside; World Heritage listed places of importance; and passionate people. You will experience the Food, Wine, and Lifestyle of Italy.
Itinerary
Tuesday 8th September - Orvieto
Arrive independently at Orvieto accommodation situated in the historic centre. Upon arrival at the hotel you will meet the trip coordinator who will assist you with any initial travel needs.
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 here for 3 nights 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. Meals: B, D
Wednesday 9th September - 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 hands on culinary session, is facilitated in a typical countryside residence not far from Orvieto, and includes lunch with local wines. The experience is completed with a tasting of local liquors in the outdoor garden area of the school.
Later in the afternoon we transfer back to our accommodation in Orvieto where the remainder of the day is free. Meals: B, L
Thursday 10th September - Great Orvieto Wines
Today we visit Falesco Winery, one of Italy's best. Recently Gambero Rosso, Italy's most respected food and wine publication named one of the estates wines in its Top 50 Italian Wines of All Time. Our visit includes tasting and lunch.
Later we are given a guided tour that takes you into the extraordinary caves, wine cellars, aqueducts, quarries and tunnels cut below the ancient town. It has been estimated that there are 1200 separate caves beneath Orvieto. Meals: B, L
Friday 11th September - Tuscany
Following breakfast we depart into central Tuscany - our base for the next 3 nights. We stay in a 336 hectare country estate which belongs to well known wine producer Donatella Cinelli Colombini. Positioned over the famous landscape of the Crete and Val d'Orcia with distant views stretching across to Montalcino, Siena, and Monte Amiata, the estate has belonged to the present owner's family for over 500 years.
In the afternoon we are given an estate tour that includes a visit of the 4 floor winery which begins with a medieval hermitage and crosses the underground of the 16th century villa before rising into a loft where Vin Santo (Tuscan desert wine) is made. Meals: B; L; D
Saturday 12th September - Val d'Orcia and Hilltop Towns
Today we venture into the Val d'Orcia. Moving slowly from the acclaimed wine-producing town of Montepulciano to nearby Pienza which hangs over the Val d'Orcia, we discover a zone of such pristine beauty that has been listed as a world heritage area.
We lunch at the unassumingly successful wine-bar trattoria La Porta, in the pretty hamlet of Montechiello just outside of Pienza. The kitchen here turns out simple but elegant food, to be enjoyed overlooking one of the world's loveliest valleys. Meals: B, L, D
Sunday 13th September - Timeless Tuscany
The day is dedicated to immersing in the tranquil and timeless surrounds of the country estate - with pool; gardens; or perhaps even afternoon 'siesta' being enticing options.
For those with a little more energy the nearby village of Trequanda can be visited via a 2km country walking trail. This medieval village truly exemplifies the typical rhythms of traditional Tuscan life and from its hilltop position (462m) provides further outstanding panoramas of the countryside of our stay. Meals: B, L, D
Monday 14th September - 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 Classico. The excursion with local food and wine expert includes lunch and winery admissions with tastings that will open you to the world of Gallo Nero: the area that distinguishes the Chianti made in the historical area - stretching from Florence to Siena - from the Chianti produced elsewhere in Tuscany.
We arrive early evening in Florence at our 3-star accommodation, situated in an area that features many of the cities most beautiful villas and gardens. Meals: B, L, D
Tuesday 15th September - The Food and Wine of Florence
Morning guided wander through Florence's historical streets, visiting its best specialty food shops with local culinary expert. Highlight visit to city's largest market Mercato Centrale, set in an enormous turn-of-the-century structure made of cast iron and glass.
This is followed by a cooking class and lunch conducted by local expert, using foods and wines gathered from the morning market and select food shop visits. The session itself is relaxed in style, allowing participants either the opportunity to totally immerse in the cooking activities or sit back with a wine and absorb the smells and sounds arising from the busy kitchen. Meals: B;L
Wednesday 16th September - Wandering Florence
For our final day in Florence much of the day's itinerary is kept activity free, allowing individuals the opportunity to explore and discover undoubtedly one of the world's most culturally rich cities. We believe one of the best way's to feel a place is to aimlessly wander its streets, with the compact nature and traffic free zones of Florences historic centre ideal for this form of discovery.
On our final evening in here we dine together at one of the cities most elegant and respected dining establishments. Meals: B; D
Thursday 17th September - Piedmont Countryside
Following breakfast we transfer from Florence 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.
On our first evening at our hotel we are introduced to the Piemontese table with a welcome dinner of typical specialities of the region. Meals: B; D
Friday 18th September - King Barolo
We venture to the wine-growing area of the Barolo - considered by many to be Italy's best wine. We visit the estate of a traditional Barolo maker for tasting and further insight into the process behind this great wine. Further, we visit the Benedictine Abbey of S. Martino di Marcenasco, a Roman-baroque building whose wine cellars house the Ratti Museum, dedicated to the wine/vine history of Barolo.The excursion includes lunch in the countryside of the Langhe.
Following lunch we visit Grinzane Castle and it's inside Enoteca Regionale Cavour - a wine store that displays some of Piedmonts most sought after and prestigious wines. Meals: B, L, D
Saturday 19th September - Cheese 2009
Guided visit to Cheese 2009 - a biannual event in the foodie town of Bra, featuring cheeses from all around the globe. As well as offering opportunities to sample the extraordinary diversity of cheeses on show, the event has taste and educational workshops for those interested in expanding there awareness of cheese.
And of course food tasting - particularly cheese - is not complete without a good glass of wine, which is why an enoteca with over 1000 labels of the most prestigious Italian producers will be set up at the event. Visitors will be able to consult a wine list with all the available wines arranged by type and region of origin.
In the evening we enjoy our trip final night dinner together at the home of Slow Food, the gastronomically rich Pollenzo-Bra. Meals: B,D
Sunday 20th September - Milan
Morning departure to Milan Station/ End of tour. Meals: B
This tour is based on a minimum of 10 participants |