Wine, Cheese &
Chocolate:
A taste of Piedmont
9 - 16 May, 2010
$2950 per person, double occupancy
$350 single supplement
E Explore the land of Barolo, Barbaresco wines and Gianduia chocolates during Piedmont's biannual "Cheese" fair. Our group (maximum 12 travelers) meets at Turin's airport for the transfer to our hotel in the Turin center. You'll have the afternoon on your own before we enjoy dinner together, learning about Italian current events and get a historical perspective on the food and drink we'll enjoy.
Turin is an excellent starting point in our week, as it is the home of the House of Savoy. One of Europe's oldest royal families, they fostered the art and science of wine and chocolate. The Family received the recipe for turning cocoa into chocolate from the Spanish royalty in 1678. And in the early part of the 19th Century, French technology of aged red wines began transforming the Piedmont valleys. We'll experience the grand cafes and take a chocolate tour of Turin's center. You'll have time to visit Turin's museums, stroll along the covered avenues while shopping and of course, visit Eataly. This culinary experience allows shoppers to experience fragrant cheese, coffees, fruits, herbs, fish, meats, jams, wine and cheeses from all over Italy in a three story market.
From Turin, we move to the Langhe valley, home of Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Meandering blissfully down the streets of La Morra, you'll discover wine bars, pastry, cheese and salami shops. Our stroll through the vineyards will take us to the Barolo Chapel. The rolling hills also host a wide of variety of cheese and chocolate artisans.
The same variety is found in the chocolate production as well. While Nutella is produced near Alba and distributed throughout the world, local chocolate makers create their own chocolate delicacies. Visiting the Castle in Grinzano Cavour gives us perspective on the region's wine history and flavors. But each vineyard has its own history and outlook, and we'll hear the stories from individual growers as well.
Meals throughout our week feature regional cuisine and wines. Passionate chefs throughout Piedmont share their enthusiasm through both traditional and innovative dishes. We'll discover not only the famous reds, but the equally interesting white and desserts wines.
