Northern delights: a food and wine adventure

Itinerary

Italy’s ‘dolce vita’ or ‘sweet life’ is founded on the fantastic food and wonderful wine for which it is famous, and in Italy’s north you find some of the best food and wine in the country. On this tour, you will discover and savour some great food and wine as you explore the north-west region of Piedmont: from Turin and beyond, into the great wine regions, such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero and Asti. Whether you enjoy great red wine, the finest chocolates, excellent aperitivo, sparkling Asti spumante, authentic Bicerin, or just great authentic food: this tour has it all!

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Day 1 – Turin: City of surprises

Guests will be arriving at different times and we will be on hand to assist when you check into your hotel and to help orient you. You will then have free time until 5:00pm when all guests will join us for welcome drinks and a chance to talk about our time in Turin and beyond. Later we will take a walk to familiarise you with the local area, finishing at a lovely Italian ristorante for our first meal together in Piedmont, and the opportunity to get to know the other travellers who will be sharing this tour with you.

Inclusions: Welcome drinks, orientation walk

Meals: Dinner

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Day 2 – Turin’s old centre then off to wine country

This morning you’ll enjoy a 3-hour walking tour of Turin’s old centre and learn its importance in Italian history: especially its place in the establishment of the modern republic. You’ll see Turin’s classic sights, from the baroque palaces and porticoes of the old city centre to its medieval cathedral: home to the fabled Shroud of Turin. You’ll visit Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo (one of the city’s most elegant squares and once dubbed 'Europe’s sitting room'), the fine baroque architecture of Piazza Carignano including the palazzo where King Vittorio Emanuele II was born, and step inside the Palazzo Reale (Royal Court) where the Savoy kings once held court. Later, you’ll transfer via private minivan to your hotel near Barolo. After time to settle in, you’ll drive to Alba: in the heart of the Langhe region. The Langhe is a premier wine region and is beautiful. Alba is known as the gourmet capital of Piedmont: famous for its white truffles and chocolates (it is where Ferrero Rocher and Nutella are from!). After an orientation walk of the town, you’ll have free time to wander the narrow lanes, pausing if you wish for an aperitivo in one of the great little bars you’ll find. Later you’ll enjoy dinner in one of Alba’s traditional restaurants before an easy drive back to your hotel.

Inclusions: Guided tour of Turin’s old centre, entry to the Palazzo Reale, transfer to hotel, orientation walk of Alba

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

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Day 3 – Vistas, castles and vino

The day starts with a short drive to the little village of Diano where you will take in staggering views of the rolling vine-covered hills of this picturesque region, before continuing on to the beautiful castle at Grizane Cavour for a guided tour of the castle and some great views from the turrets. After working up an appetite, it’s off to a wonderful local trattoria for a traditional Piedmont lunch. Next, you will visit lovely little Barberesco and have the chance to climb its famous tower: the Torre di Barbaresco. Today ends with a wine-tasting in a famous local winery before returning to your hotel as the sun sets on another great day in Piemonte.

Inclusions: Entry to Castello di Grizane Cavour plus a guided tour, entry to the Torre di Barbaresco, visits to Diano and Barbaresco, wine-tasting

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and wine-tasting

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Day 4 – Asti spumante and the underground Cathedrals of Cannelli

East of Alba lies Asti, and the region around this lovely town is the home of Spumante DOCG:  renowned and exported around the world. In the morning you’ll drive towards Asti; enjoying gentle hills alternating with green valleys to create landscapes of unique beauty, and vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see; providing a kaleidoscope of shades and tones. When you arrive in Asti you will be met by your local guide who will take you on a guided tour of the town and its historic old centre. After some free time to grab a bite to eat for lunch, you’ll take the short drive to the town of Cannelli to visit a winery and explore its underground cathedrals. These masterpieces of engineering - now a UNESCO site – wind their way for about 20 kilometres in the tufa hills and are a surreal setting where thousands of bottles of spumante are left to ferment to perfection. Your time here ends with a visit to a nearby distillery to sample some of the local grappa: a fragrant, grape-based spirit. After returning to your hotel for a rest, later tonight you’ll drive to a great local ristorante overlooking the vineyards for another fantastic dinner.

Inclusions: Guided tour of Asti and the Cannelli underground cathedrals, wine-tasting, grappa tasting

Meals: Breakfast, dinner, wine-tasting, grappa tasting

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Day 5 – Barolo wine and white truffles

The region around Barolo is not only renowned for its excellent wine, but also for its truffles. In fact, the local white truffles are regarded as the 'Rolls Royce' of the food world: some of the rarest, most expensive and most delicious ingredients in all of Italy. This morning you’ll visit a local farm where we’ll be taken into the countryside on a search for the little white wonders. You’ll then sample some of the farm’s wines whilst enjoying a light lunch of local delicacies. It’s then on the road, with a stop in the delightful little town of La Morra and the chance for a coffee or gelato whilst taking in more great views, before arriving in the town of Barolo itself. The town gives its name to both the wine - Barolo is arguably the most famous DOCG wine produced in Italy – and to the area where it is produced, which now has UNESCO World Heritage status. You’ll visit Barolo’s interesting wine museum and have some free time in the little town, before visiting a brilliant winery close by to sample some of the famed red wine. Later you’ll enjoy the panoramic rolling vine-covered hills on the drive back to your hotel after a fantastic day in Barolo.

Inclusions: Truffle experience, visits to 2 wineries for tastings, entry to Barolo Museo di Vino, visits to Barolo and La Morra

Meals: Breakfast, light lunch, wine-tastings

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Day 6 – Learning to cooking Piemonte-style in Turin

This morning you will transfer by private minivan back to Turin, where you will learn to cook traditional local food in an excellent Piedmont cooking school. The menu will depend on the season, but it will be delicious and you will get to enjoy the lunch you have helped prepare before returning to your hotel, with free time in Turin until the early evening when the group will gather again for the chance to share a drink and, importantly, to enjoy a final meal together to talk about the highlights of a wonderful adventure shared in Piedmont.

Inclusions: Private minivan transfer to Turin, cooking school

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7 – Farewell from Turin

This is our last morning in Turin. We will be available to assist in your transfers to the airport or the rail.

Meals: Breakfast

 

You can download the Northern Delights guided food and wine tour itinerary here.  

                                                                                 

For further information, or to book a Viaggio Italia Northern Delights guided food and wine tour, click here or contact us directly - you'll find our contact details here​.

 

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