Luxury Lake Garda Culinary Tours Weekend

- This morning you will arrive to Venice or Milan airport (AM). Your own private chauffeur will be waiting for you and you’ll step into your luxurious Mercedes and head for the Franciacorta wine hills. Franciacorta is the most high end and famous region in Italy for bubbly, and you’ll visit a fabulous small boutique estate making not only different types of bubbles from brut to “Saten”. The sparkling wines of Franciacorta are made with Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero, and are elegant and creamy bubblies. Taste wines in a private corner of the estate, perhaps overlooking the vines.

- Lunch is in a brick vaulted trattoria in wine country, one of our favorites, known for its superb local cooking. Specialties could include Risotto al Franciacorta in cialda di Grana (risotto slow cooked in Franciacorta wine). After a lingering lovely lunch, complete with excellent local grappas to wash the meal down, head to Lake Garda to your villa hotel.

- This is a hotel with many local legends and anecdotes. It was originally an eccentric businessman’s mansion, and acted as a hideaway in later years for Mussolini! It has been a luxury hotel for the last decade, and you can expect a historic property with all the creature comforts. The setting is just gorgeous. Enjoy a free night tonight to get settled in.

Overnight:

5* Villa Hotel, Lake Garda

Meals Included in Price:

Lunch with wines

Transfers:

Venice or Milan airport - Franciacorta wine country - Lake Garda

- Wake up in a spectacular setting, with views of the lake, the lemon grove and a massive magnolia tree. After a wonderful breakfast, you will head to Torri del Banco by your own private boat. Upon arrival, you’ll taxi for the last five minutes up the hill to the venue for your charming and private cooking class.

- Andrea and Lara are your delicious hosts, and you will start the day with an invigorating cappuccino and brioche. Your chef will present the menu for the day and you will get ready to be a sous-chef for the day. Sharpen your knives! Learn the basics of ciabatta, focaccia pasta, risotto, antipasti and more. After your cooking lesson, sit down to the fruit of your labours, right in the elegant dining room, taking in the sumptuous views. You’ll taste various wines that are carefully selected to pair with your dishes. Enjoy!

- After this convivial morning and lunch, hit the lake for a private cruise. From the comfort of your own boat, take in the views such as the Scaligero castle, the villa that once belonged to Maria Callas, the Grotta di Catullo caves, the pretty Isola del Garda, Baia delle Sirene, and more. Stop for a late afternoon aperitif in the Taverna San Vigilio with its million dollar views.

- Free evening tonight.

Overnight:

5* Villa Hotel, Lake Garda

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wines

Transfers:

Private motorlaunch and lake cruise

- This morning, enjoy a late start! Take time to enjoy your surroundings, perhaps take in a morning walk along the Caribbean clear lakeside, or just get some extra sleep. Around 10:30AM, your chauffeured Mercedes will arrive to take you to the Valtenesi in the pretty green hills between Desenzano and Salò, on the western side of Lake Garda. You´ll visit and tasting at a top winery such as Cascina La Pertica, an organic and biodynamic gem. Their wine Garda Cabernet Le Zalte 2003 received the Tre Bicchiere award (“Three Glasses”, the highest honour in Italy). Enjoy a private tour of the estate followed by a VIP tasting of course! Before you leave, your hosts will give you a small gift.

- Lunch will be in a traditional and characteristic high quality trattoria where your meal will be carefully planned with paired wines. After lunch, your next port of call is a traditional “Frantoio” (olive oil producer). Learn about Italian Olive Oil, traditional methods of production, and finish your visit with a fantastic tasting of olive oils.

- You´ll visit Salò next for some free time to relax at a wine bar, go gourmet shopping, or just soak up the atmosphere. On the way back to the hotel, if you are a history buff we recommend a visit to the Villa Vittoriale. Once the private estate of Italian poet and military adventurer, Gabriele D'Annunzio, this villa is in the art books for its Italian Art Deco interior. Free evening

Overnight:

5* Villa Hotel, Lake Garda

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wines

Transfers:

Hotel- wine country- hamlets- hotel

- Today you will depart. We recommend you take a late flight so you can enjoy a stop in Bergamo, one of our favorite little known art cities. Drop off at your preferred time at the airport.

- Airport transfer at your desired time.

- This concludes your gourmet weekend in Lake Garda.

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

Airport transfer

What's Included:

• Accommodation for 4 nights in ultra luxurious 5* Historic Hotel (double occupancy with private bath)
• 4 Full breakfasts
• Private Airport Transfers and all transfers as per the itinerary by luxury Mercedes and English speaking chauffeur
• Bottle of Italian Bubbly in your room upon arrival
• 2 VIP Private winery visits to top producers
• Private Lake Cruise
• Private Cooking Class
• 3 Traditional Extensive Lunches in wine country with top wines
• All Local taxes

What's Not Included:

• Flights
• Meals and Drinks not Specified
• Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
• Tips and Gratuities (Guides, Restaurants, etc)
• Travel Insurance (Strongly recommended)
• Cancellation Insurance

Prices:

This is a SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY. Please note that our chauffeured luxury tours have the following starting prices:

• Final price depends on chosen style of accommodation and dining. Please contact us with your group size (minimum 2 guests, no maximum group size), travel dates and preferences and we will send you custom pricing.
• Discounts available for larger groups
• Please note that our tours are available upon demand for PRIVATE GROUPS and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.

More Information on Luxury Lake Garda Culinary Tours:

If you are interested in this package, contact us today for more information. This tour can also be adapted for bigger groups with a substantial discount. All of our tours are available year round upon request for your private group of minimum 2 people. If you would like us to customize a luxury gourmet tour for you, contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize cooking packages and wine tours from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries throughout Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Email us at: info@cellartours.com