Newsletter Winter 2008

Venice is a magical place to visit anytime of the year, but at Carnival, the city is absolutely captivating. The name "Carnival" literally translates as "remove meat" and is a pre-Lent festivity, held during the ten days before Shrove Tuesday. The tradition of Venetian Carnival dates back to the 11th century, and the event truly flourished in the 18th century. This was the era of Casanova when extravagant balls were organized in decadent palazzos attended by outrageous Venetian Courtesans, and it was the époque of masked gambling and much carousing at the “Ridotto” (the government run casino). Today, the tradition continues and Venice celebrates carnival with tremendous gusto, fabulous parties and masquerade balls. A visit to Venetian carnival is a once in a lifetime experience, and for our special guests we have prepared this luxurious opportunity to visit the carnival in style.

Sample Program for Private Luxury Tour of the Carnival in Venice:

Day 1 Feb 14

• Arrive to Venice airport and private boat to your luxury hotel
• Rendezvous with your private Venetian art guide at your hotel and go shopping for your mask and costume. Then take an incognito stroll with your guide through Venice's most beautiful neighborhoods and learn about the fascinating history and many legends about Carnival.
• This afternoon you will have free time to go people watching and to relax at your exclusive hotel, set on its own island.
• Tonight you will attend the spectacular Serenissima Grand Ball. This gala celebration is a homage to Saint Valentine and is a sophisticated and unforgettable evening. Come in costume with your mask, and enjoy a cocktail while listening to the Quartetto Barocco and Soprano singer. Sit down to the formal dinner and take in the romantic duets performed from operas such as La Bohéme and La Traviata.

Day 2 Feb 15

• This morning you'll have your own private Venetian mask making workshop in a historic atelier followed by a private cooking class with recipes focused on Venetian carnival dishes like “Chiacchere”. Free afternoon to discover Venice on your own.
• Dinner tonight is a gala event at the beautiful Hotel Danieli. Come in costume again and enjoy this exclusive event just steps from Saint Mark's. Over a classy dinner, there will be dancing and entertainment. A Venetian “dance master” will show guests how to do “Rondo” and “Minuet”, dancing in group ensemble.

Day 3 Feb 16

• This morning you will have a private gondola ride, in costume, down the Grand Canal, passing the Rialto bridge, the Fondaco dei Turchi, Ca` Pesaro and countless palazzos.
• Lunch will be at a traditional “Osteria”, accompanied by high quality Veneto wines such as Prosecco and Amarone.
• The rest of the afternoon is yours and the evening free to explore Venice on your own with our suggestions.

If you are interested in this private luxury tour of the Venetian Carnival, contact us at info@cellartours.com

Tignanello, produced by Antinori, is one of Italy's “mythical” wines. One of the pioneers of the “Super Tuscan wines”, Tignanello was first made in 1971, under the expert guidance of Giacomo Tachis (the godfather of the Super Tuscans including Sassicaia, and one of Italy's legendary winemakers). Tignanello is made from grapes cultivated in a single vineyard, also called Tignanello, located right in the beautiful Chianti Classico appellation about half an hour south of Florence near the hamlet of Monteridolfi, and in between the valleys of Pesa and Greve. The Tuscan flagship grape Sangiovese and international Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc thrive in the limestone and tufa soils here.

This ultra premium wine is only made in the best vintages (as such it was not included in vintages labeled as good or worse; only excellent. There was no Tignanello made in the following vintages for example- 2002, 1992, or 1984). What should you expect with this wine? An intense ruby red color; thick legs (average alc is 13.5%); bouquet of blackberries, forest fruit jam, tobacco and cedar; on the palate it is full bodied, silky, tremendous length and fruit forward flavors with the perfect balance of oak ageing. Stunning wine, world class. You can taste the wines of Tiganello on a luxurious private tour at the breathtaking Badia Passignano Antinori wine estate, contact us for more info.

Wine Style: Dry red wine
Appellation: Toscana - Indicazione Geografica Tipica
Region: Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Grape Varietals: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc
Food and Wine Pairing: Lamb Chops, Florentine Steak, Mature cheese, Spaghetti and Italian meatballs

The Valtellina region in northern Italy is one of the most spectacular regions, regards to its wines and its dramatic landscapes. Located near the Swiss border near the Stelvio Pass, the Valtellina's vineyards are striking as they grow on steep hills jutting up vertically on either side of the Adda river. The wines made here are powerful, dry reds made with the Chiavennasca grape (cousin to the Nebbiolo grape of Barolo and Barbaresco). We love the Valtellina most in winter, as the snowy alpine scenery is at its most picturesque and the intense red wines and delicious mountain cuisine is best enjoyed in colder weather. We have designed these winter wine tasting weekends in the Valtellina to include accommodation in a historic spa hotel with Ancient Roman grottos; wine tasting in top cellars like Nino Negri and Triacca; an excursion to St Moritz in Switzerland via the “Glacier Express”; touring Bellagio in Lake Como; and a winter horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow to a cozy hideaway for lunch...

For any skeptics that doubt Ireland is an interesting destination for foodies, here is what we have to say: Ummera organic smoked salmon, Gubbeen's farmhouse cheese and gourmet charcuterie, Galway Oysters; Edward Twomey's Clonakilty black pudding; not to mention the wonderful local stouts like Guinness and Murphy's, and fine Irish whiskies such as Midleton Very Rare. Combine these goodies with world class Michelin starred restaurants in Dublin, charming traditional pubs, the English Market and Café Paradiso in Cork, ultra fresh seafood in the pretty village of Kinsale, gardens and manor houses, castles and lakes in Kerry, luxury hotels and your own private driver- and you have the essence of our fabulous new Gourmet Grand Tour of Ireland. This is the ultimate vacation for food and wine lovers looking for a luxurious private tour of Ireland

We often receive requests for private cooking classes in Lisbon, and so we are delighted to present a new luxurious culinary day excursions to the aristocratic town of Cascais with a private tour of romantic Sintra. In a beautiful villa overlooking the sea, you will enjoy a private cooking class with a prestigious chef. The menu is innovative Portuguese with some continental European (French and Italian) influences. Spend the morning preparing a three course meal while sipping on a rich white wine from the Alentejo region, then sit down to lunch in a refined setting. In the afternoon, before returning to Lisbon (with a private driver of course), you'll stop in Sintra for a visit. Sintra is the loveliest village in Portugal, full of palaces and thick forest, and has long been where the aristocrats and wealthy have lived- even from the time that the Ancient Romans occupied this corner of “Lusitania”. With a private art guide, visit the wildest palace of them all, the Pena Palace

Definitely the most stylish and high end restaurant to grace the wine region of Penedès, just south of Barcelona, Tribia is just fabulous. Located at a luxury wine resort with spectacular views of vineyards under the shadow of the Montserrat mountains, this is one of our favorite spots in Penedès. The young executive chef Víctor Gómez has worked in a kitchen for literally half of his life- he worked in a hotel kitchen at 13, at Michelin starred Lluçanès when he was 18, at 21 he opened his own restaurant and now at 26 he is in charge at Tribia.

Dishes you can look forward to include watermelon gazpacho with olive oil ice cream drizzled in Balsamic vinegar from Modena, octopus "a feria " style with sprinkled paprika, grilled turbot, Iberian paella style rice, savory pork chops with pineapple "chutney", and a "Torrija" with strawberries and crunchy mint. The chef offers a wonderful tasting menu with various dishes, paired with Can Bonastre estate wines, which we highly recommend. The atmosphere is sophisticated without being overly formal. Décor is warm and contemporary. Great ambience, great service and great food- what more could you ask for? If you'll be touring the Penedès wineries, then don't miss lunch here. You can also stay a few nights at the resort and take in wine spa treatments. Contact us for more information if you'd like to dine at Tribia as part of a luxury wine tour In the Penedès.

The Alentejo region in Portugal is just quite possibly one of our favorite wine regions in Europe. Utterly romantic with soft rolling hills punctuated by Moorish castles and fortresses, miles of cork forests, and whitewashed villages, the Alentejo is wonderfully off the beaten path. For years, this also meant there was no luxury hotel option, but not any longer! The Convento do Espinheiro (Starwood Luxury Collection) Hotel & Spa is a magnificent, ultra romantic and sumptuous hotel. Located outside of the beautiful Unesco heritage town of Évora, the resort is spread out on a carefully restored convent. The grounds are extremely peaceful, with their gardens, soothing views and charming church. The decoration is “antique chic”. Expect colors like gold, ivory, eggplant, wine, forest green, beige, etc. While your bed might be 300 years old the linens are ultra luxury and contemporary.

The Convento do Espinheiro's facilities include all the basics you would expect at a luxury hotel- 24 Hour Business Center, a small gym, and indoor/outdoor swimming pools. It's also a member of the Starwood Spa Collection. Its spa, called the “Diana Spa” is named after the Ancient Roman temple of Diana in Évora, and features innovative spa treatments using chocolate, grapes, and olive oils). Fun touches at this resort include the helipad, in case you want to arrive to the hotel by making a big statement.

Divinus Restaurant, the resort's elegant eatery, offer traditional Alentejo cuisine in a refined, wine cellar atmosphere. You'll see rustic dishes like dogfish soup and “bacalhau” (the ubiquitous Portuguese salt cod) alongside scallops and foie gras. Needless to say, the wine list is exceptional, and you should keep an eye out for top Alentejo wines from estates like Cortes de Cima, Esporão, Herdade dos Coelheiros, and Mouchão. This wonderful hotel is always included in our VIP Alentejo wine tours. Contact us for more information.

What would the Mediterranean be without Olives and Olive Oil? Hard to imagine our kitchen without this wonderful late autumn and winter goodie (technically a fruit, and not a vegetable). In Spain, Italy and Portugal, olives are harvested from late November all the way to January (depending on the region). Olives have been cultivated throughout Southern Europe and Asia Minor since time immemorial. It was Homer who coined the phrase “Liquid Gold” when describing olive oil, and this phrase is still used today. The olive species (Olea Europaea) has literally thousands of different “cultivars (types). All grow on silver-green trees that can live for up to hundreds of years. The older the olive tree, the wider the trunk. We have seen splendid wide-trunked 500 year old olive trees near Soller in Mallorca, and a 700 year old olive tree in Tuscany!

Some exceptionally tasty olives include the tiny Arbequina olives from Catalonia (which make the finest extra virgin olive oils in Spain), the Moraiolo olives from Umbria (also used to make exquisite oils) and the Cordovil de Serpa of the Alentejo. Olives can be used to make olive oil; they are cured and stuffed with peppers/anchovies/almonds and chiles; they are grilled, marinated with oil, garlic, chiles and other ingredients; they can be made into pâtés; and they are used in the cuisine of countless dishes in Mediterranean Europe. They are high in Vitamin E and help to reduce cholesterol. Olives are high in calories, but are one of the world's healthiest fruits and should be a regular part of your diet.

The dry martini is the definitive “cool” cocktail, epitomized in movies like “Swingers” and of course the James Bond series. The origins of this classic cocktail, are like many other cocktails, mysterious with conflicting versions that state the martini originated in places as varied as London, New York and California. The classic dry martini is made with gin, dry vermouth and green olives, and can be shaken or stirred. Other versions are made with vodka, and other garnishes can include a lemon twist. Here is a classic recipe for the Dry Martini to enjoy over the holidays.

Recipe

• 2 parts Gin (Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire are great)
• 1 part dry Vermouth (Noilly Prat is a good option)
• 1-2 green olives

Blend the gin and vermouth in a cocktail shaker over ice, then strain into a classic cocktail glass, adorning with an olive or two. Simple and stylish.

If you would like us to customize a luxury private tour for you in France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal or Spain, contact us and we will prepare a tailored itinerary just for you. Let us show you our favorite gourmet corners in Europe!

Cellar Tastings S.L.
Infantas, n. 27, 3 Derecha, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Tel Spain: +34 91 521 3939
Tel USA: (310) 928-7559
Tel UK: (020) 8144 6806
Fax: +34 91 521 4757
Email: info@cellartours.com
Web: www.cellartours.com
Blog: www.cellartours.com/blog/