Wine and Dine in Italian Riviera (Portofino) and Piedmont

Italian Riviera and Piedmont- Wining and Dining:

Highlights:

View images of Piedmont

Sip on velvety Barolo wines, sleep in a villa overlooking vineyards, enjoy sunsets over the Italian Riviera and dine on homemade pasta topped with deliciously fresh pesto. Sound fantastic? This eight-day itinerary is designed for food and wine lovers who are looking for a combination “coast and countryside” private tour. You’ll travel southwest from Milan towards the Alps, first stopping for a few fabulous days in Piedmont wine country- Gourmet Paradise! This is land of Barolo and Barbaresco wines, white truffles, and some of the best cheeses in Italy. The locals shave truffles over everything from Polenta, Risotto, Pasta and their traditional Fonduta (a Fondue, evident of the Swiss influence). Piedmont is also a wonderfully unspoiled region, full of medieval villages and castles surrounded by vines. The Alps hover above and the region's name in fact makes reference to this (Piemonte means "at the foot of the mountain"). In autumn, thick fog hovers on the brightly colored hills (the red and orange vines actually "glow" with the reflection of the snow capped Alps) and you can just make out the castle tops and hill topped villages poking out at the top.

Your first hotel is a small 17th century palazzo lovingly renovated into a luxurious small bed and breakfast with many small luxuries. The next few days will be spent visiting family owned wineries and tasting some of the best wines in the region. Gastronomy is also a major highlight in Piedmont and superb restaurants will feature on this tour. From Piedmont, you´ll travel south to the Italian Riviera (Liguria), home to some of the loveliest seaside villages in Europe. You will stay in Portofino at the mythical Splendido Mare right in the little harbor, a tremendously charming location. You will enjoy a visit to Cinque Terre (a cluster of colorfully painted historic villages along a beautiful coastline), a winery visit producing the rare Sciacchetrà, and a breathtaking drive along the « Gulf of Poets » (along the Tyrrhenian). The cuisine in Liguria is 100% Mediterranean, bursting with fresh flavors, healthy seafood, extra virgin Olive Oils and most famously, Pesto. Liguria is also well know for Focaccia, wonderful flat bread often flavoured with Fennel or Rosemary. The local wines are mainly white and are grown on treacherously steep slopes that have to be harvested by hand.

This tour offers you a mix of wine tasting, haute cuisine as well as rustic cooking, darling towns and villages and spectacular scenery. You will leave Italy with some gorgeous photos, some gourmet goodies and unforgettable memories of the truly special people you have met in Italian wine country. Arrivederci!

Upon arrival to Milan, you will be collected by your English-speaking driver and chauffeured Mercedes (sedan or Vito depending on group size) at the airport. Let the gourmet tour begin! Transfer to the famed wine region of Piemonte (1hr 45 min).Your upcoming tour involves plenty of wine tasting (Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, Gavi) and gourmet cuisine (risotto with truffles, handmade ravioli). Hungry yet?

Today you will enjoy a private winery visit to Giacomo Bologna´s Braida wine estate. Giacomo is known as the “King of Barbera”. These are luscious wines and a delightful beginning to your tour. Enjoy a light lunch on your own at a nearby trattoria and in the afternoon, arrive to your country hotel and relax before dinner. La Villa is a 17th Century ‘palazzo’, which sits high on a hill amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Monferrato, and is completely surrounded by vineyards. It has superb views in every direction, framed by the Alps.

Tonight for dinner you will indulge in a tasting menu dinner at the Michelin starred Il Cascinale Nuovo. Taste some superb regional dishes prepared by Walter Ferretto, one of the region´s most inspired chef´s. Your chauffeur will take you back to the Villa after dinner (about 25 minute drive).

Overnight:

Elegant Villa style B&B - suite

Meals Included in Price:

Wine tasting, Gourmet Michelin starred dinner (wine not included)

Transfers:

Milan airport (Malpensa or Linate)- Piedmont wine region- Mombaruzzo

Today, you will travel through the lovely Langhe sub region of Piemonte, home of Barolo and Barbaresco. You'll visit one of the best Barbaresco producers, and meet the whole family. Luca, the son, is the winemaker and he will take you on a vineyard walk before visiting the old cellar. You'll indulge in a superb wine tasting of the best Barolos and Barbarescos the Roagna estate makes before sitting down to lunch with the winemaker himself. The cuisine will be mamma´s cucina- satisfying and rich dishes paired perfectly with sultry red wines.

After a convivial lunch, enjoy a digestive walk in the little hamlet of Barbaresco before carrying on to nearby Alba. Alba is most famous for its annual white truffle fair and auction that attract celebrities and chefs from all over the world. You will visit one of the top Italian Grappa producers here, Marolo. The distillery offers a great little visit and you can taste grappas made from a variety of local grapes such as Nebbiolo, Arneis, Freisa and Pigato.

After your grappa tasting, enjoy a walk around Alba or return to your romantic B&B. We can organize a light informal dinner for you (must be pre-organized) or a taxi to take you to any number of nearby restaurants. After Luca´s mamma´s cooking at lunch, it is likely that a wedge of Parmigiano and glass of wine will do!

Overnight:

Elegant Villa style B&B - suite

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, homemade lunch at the winery with wine

Transfers:

Mombaruzzo- Barbaresco- Alba- Mombaruzzo

Enjoy a late start today to give you a chance to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast. Around 10am, your chauffeur will take you through the very pretty wine country to the tiny hamlet of Rodello (about an hour´s drive). You’ll visit the top Dolcetto producer in the area, Mossio. Run by Valerio Mossio, this winery is actually a converted 17th century monk's cellar. The vineyards here are lovely and you’ll enjoy a stomp in the vines before tasting their range of wines.

Lunch will be at an ultra gourmet haunt in Asti, with views over the Tanaro river. You’ll have a taster menu paired with super wines. After this unforgettable lunch, you´ll enjoy a guided tour of Asti with a wonderful guide. Known for its bubbly (Asti Spumanti), this little working town is mercifully free of tourist crowds and has some beautiful churches, medieval streets and squares.

In the early evening, return to your B&B and enjoy a quiet evening in wine country. As a light dinner, we will arrange a cheese tasting paired with wines. Sample 4-5 Piemontese cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Bra, Caprini, Testùn, Tumìn dal Mel or Tomino Piemontese. Wines paired with this will include Dolcettos and Barberas. Tonight, you can relax at the villa.

Overnight:

Elegant Villa style B&B - suite

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, gourmet taster menu lunch with wine, cheese tasting with wine as light dinner

Transfers:

Mombaruzzo - Rodello- Asti- Mombaruzzo

After a lovely breakfast with your hosts, you will check out of the Villa, and head towards Gavi wine country. First stop is to the hill topped medieval town of Gavi. Enjoy a visit to the ancient fortress and the picture perfect medieval streets.

Lunch will be an authentic Piemontese affair in a lovely historic restaurant with an arched brick ceiling. Your next stop is to an excellent winery, Villa Sparina, producing some of the best Gavi wines (that share the namesake with the medieval town). Gavi wines are made with the white Cortese grape and are light and delicate on the palate and smell like spring white flowers. You will taste a range of wines from Gavis to Barberas.

You will be sleeping at the winery’s elegant hotel tonight, a beautifully restored 18th century farmhouse. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure to enjoy a walk amid the vines. Dinner tonight will be on your own at the hotel´s exceptional restaurant, La Gallina

Overnight:

4* country hotel –superior room

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Gavi wine tasting, authentic Piemontese lunch (wine not included)

Transfers:

Mombaruzzo- Gavi

Today, you will head to the Italian Riviera (about 1 hour driving). Today is a free day for you to enjoy the pleasures of Portofino.

Portofino, the most enchanting hamlet on the Italian Riviera, rises above a promontory between Punta Chiappa, the inlets of Cala dell Oro and Saint Fruttuoso and Punta Carena. It has been a destination of the rich and famous for more than half a century. Guy de Montpassant was one of the first visitors to Portofino, which he described as 'a crescent moon around a calm basin'. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Nietzsche and Humphrey Bogart all chose Portofino as their perfect hideaway.

Today you will enjoy free time to take some light walks, a private cruise (which can be organized at your hotel), visit the fancy boutiques, savor a long lunch, take in some spa services, etc. You will be staying in the Splendido Mare, a wonderful place located right in the heart of Portofino. The hotel has great views over the harbor and the castle of San Giorgio. We recommend you visit the abbey of San Fruttuoso. This Benedictine nucleus was founded in 984 on the ruins of a pre-existing convent. You can see the 16th century Dorian fortress built as a defence tower against invading Venetians and pirates.

You have to try pesto while on the Riviera, as this is the region where it originates and it tends to be mouth-wateringly fresh. It usually accompanies that other great Ligurian invention- Gnocchi.

Overnight:

5* luxury hotel – standard room sea view

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

Gavi- Portofino

After breakfast, your chauffeur will meet you to take you on a great sightseeing day. Today, you will explore some lovely villages in the famed “Cinque Terre”.

The Cinque Terre is a unique area, full of tiny peninsulas and romantic bays. The Cinque Terre villages include (from La Spezia East to West): Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The towns are terraced, almost falling into the sea and form the gorgeous National Nature Reserve of the Cinque Terre. Monterosso is a village protected by vineyard covered hill and olive groves. Its beautiful beaches, steep rugged cliffs and crystal-clear waters, make this one of the most charming towns on the Ligurian Riviera. You can also visit Manarola, and walk along the “Via dell’Amore (The path of Love).

After the morning´s sightseeing, you´ll visit a local winery, known for its Sciacchetrà (the most famous and rare wine in the area). The estate also produces olive oil, honey and lemons. Your lunch will be a fresh Mediterranean light “pranzo”, served at the winery with wines of course, enjoy! In the afternoon, your chauffeur is on hand if you would like to do more sightseeing. Free evening in Portofino.

Overnight:

5* luxury hotel – standard room sea view

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, light lunch at winery with wine

Transfers:

Portofino- Cinque Terre villages- Portofino

Tonight, you will sleep in Milan, but not before enjoying one last memorable day.

You will discover the gorgeous Golfo dei Poeti today, a dreamy coastline that streches along the inlets of the Tyrrhenian coast. The Gulf of Spezia, or 'Poets Gulf', has bewitched poets, painters and writers with the beauty of its landscape for centuries. You will fall in love with Portovenere, a Medieval hamlet crowned by a Genovese Castle and the Church of St Pietro. Other lovely places on this stretch of coast include Tellaro, with its long beaches; Fiascherino, Lerici (somewhat of a gourmet mecca, famous for its Spaghetti alla lericina); S.Terenzo, with its beautiful beaches, its castle and the walking route from castle to castle. Your driver is on hand and you can lunch on your won wherever you like today (with our recommendations)

Dinner tonight will be specially prepared farewell dinner at a wonderful venue. Chauffeur service to and from dinner.

Overnight:

5* ultra luxury hotel – standard room

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, gourmet dinner (paired with wines)

Transfers:

Portofino- Poet´s Gulf (Spezia)- Milan

After a full breakfast at the hotel, your personal chauffeur will pick you up and take you to the airport.

This concludes your unforgettable luxurious tour of the Italian Riviera and Piedmont. We hope to see you again!

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, dinner with wine

Transfers:

Milan hotel-airport

What's Included:

What's Not Included:

Prices:

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

More Information on this Luxury Italian Riviera & Piedmont, Wining and Dining Vacation:

If you are interested in this package, contact us today for more information. This tour is 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 Spain, Portugal & Italy.

Email us at: info@cellartours.com