PIEDMONT, NORTHERN ITALY
TOUR DATES
OCTOBER 14 – 21, 2017
Expanding on our love of food and table, A’Tavola is offering two culinary trips this year. We will experience first-hand that which inspires us: culture, food, and fostering relationships. Together, we will explore the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy.
Food is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to understand and appreciate other cultures.
Join us for an intimate and memorable experience of the Italian countryside. We will spend a week exploring the culture through food, breathtaking landscapes, cooking classes, vineyards, olive groves, and private tours of Piedmont’s most charming villages.
DAY 1 | TORINO*
We gather this afternoon and meet at the Torino Porta Nuova Train Station at 2:00pm (exact meeting spot to be announced later). We depart Torino and head to our 17th century stone villa near Bonvicino, where on clear days you can enjoy views of the Italian Alps from our balcony. Upon arrival, guests will have time to settle into their rooms and take a tour of the villa and the beautiful grounds. Clay, our host and local guide, will prepare an exquisite welcome dinner. Every dish will be cooked in the traditional wood-fired oven and paired with wines from the Langhe region.
*Torino is a dynamic city with amazing art, history, and food. We recommend guests arrive a day or two in advance to recover from jet-lag and enjoy this city on their own.
Dinner
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DAY 2 | ALBA
After enjoying an early breakfast at the villa, we will depart for Alba around 8:15am to embark on a tour with our host and local guide, Clay. Alba sits at the heart of one of Italy’s most important gastronomic regions and is considered the capital of the Langhe region. We will explore the beautifully preserved old town as well as view some of the surviving towers that fill the medieval skyline (there used to be 100, now only 20). Alba is also internationally known for the White Truffle. In fact, we will be visiting during the White Truffle Festival! Guests will have the opportunity to walk around the festival, sampling an array of products made with truffles. Leaving Alba, we drive to one of Clay’s favorite restaurants for a typical leisurely Italian Sunday lunch. Arriving back at the villa, guests will have time to relax and enjoy the villa comforts while we make a light dinner using regional specialties.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 3 | CHOCOLATE MAKING CLASS, BOSSOLASCO
Today’s adventure takes us to Bossolasco, where we will meet Clay’s friend who just happens to be a Master Chocolatier. As students in an authentic making and tasting class, we will learn how to temper chocolate and how to create the traditional hazelnut and chocolate truffles made famous in this region. Most importantly, we will end with a delicious tasting of many handmade chocolates. Afterward we will enjoy a light lunch nearby with time to enjoy the surrounding countryside and landscapes. Let’s save some eating room & energy for tonight because we will dine in Dogliani at a local restaurant showcasing the bounty and tradition of the Langhe region.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 4 | MARKET VISIT, BAROLO WINERY, LA MORRA
After breakfast we depart for Dogliani at 10:00am in order to walk and experience the colorful Tuesday Market — a favorite market of the locals! Heading north into the Barolo wine region (one of the most famous wines in Italy), we will have an outstanding lunch. After lunch, we will participate in an exclusive wine tasting at one of the region’s best wineries that produces exceptional Barolos, Barberas, and Nebbiolos. After our intimate wine tasting, we will explore the charming hilltop town of La Morra where the winery is located. La Morra is the highest point in Barolo, so we will be rewarded with amazing views of the vineyards and valleys below. Prior to dinner at the villa, we will arrange a cheese tasting of some of Piedmont’s most delicious and famous cheeses. Tonight, we will enjoy the cuisine of Piedmont, using local products from the Dogliani market and savoring some of the local Barolo from our winery visit.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 5 | DOGLIANI, COOKING CLASS
Today guests will have the opportunity to sleep in, relax, or enjoy a morning walk through the countryside that surrounds our villa. For those who want to get out, we will offer transportation to Dogliani for a couple hours if they wish to shop, go to the café or take a stroll. Back at the villa we will have a light lunch and time to rest before our exciting hands-on cooking class this evening with our local chef. Tonight, guests will be cooking traditional Piemontese pasta, including tajarin and plin, as well as some other classics in the professional chef’s kitchen. After our hard work preparing dinner, we will feast as a group with local wine and dessert.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 6 | ITALIAN RIVERIA, NOLI
Departing the mountains and heading towards the sea, we are in for a real treat. We trade the forests for sandy beaches and rivers for the turquoise waters of the Ligurian coast. Noli is one of our guide’s favorite coastal cities and we will have a special in-depth tour of this medieval town, including the beaches, castle, and historic center. To take advantage of our location, we will have a seafood lunch at one of the city’s best restaurants. After lunch, guests will have time to explore on their own. For those needing to cool off, bring your swimsuit and towel for a dip in the sea! We will depart for our villa in the afternoon, allowing guests some time to rest and prepare for dinner because will be heading out for our last meal located in a nearby town.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 7 | VICOFORTE, MONDOVI, FAREWELL DINNER
Today we head south toward the Liguarian and Piedmont border to Vicoforte. Here in Vicoforte, we will visit the stunning Sanctuary of Vicoforte, the largest elliptical cupola in the world. We will enter the sanctuary in order to see the fresco that adorns this 64,930 square foot vault. After our visit, we head to lunch in a restaurant ran by the same family since 1901. Heading back toward the villa, we will make a stop in Mondovi, which was founded in 1198. This hilltop town famous for its earthenware ceramics, overlooks the plain crossed by the Po River on one side and the mountains on the other side. For our last evening in Piedmont, the villa chef will be preparing another authentic and outstanding Piemontese meal. We will toast the week with great company, food, and wine!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 8 | BONVICINO, TORINO
We will say Ciao to our lovely host today and depart as a group for the Torino Train Station mid-morning. Today guests will be able to catch a train or flight from Torino to go home or to another destination. Please feel free to ask us any questions if you plan to extend your stay in Europe after the trip ends.
Breakfast
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TOUR PRICE:
$4,295.00 per person / Double Occupancy
Single Supplement $ 600.00
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PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
At time of reservation: 50%
90 days prior to departure: 50%
CANCELLATION SCHEDULE:
More than 120 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
120-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
60 days or less: 100% of trip cost
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
* 7 nights double occupancy lodging in a private Piedmont villa
* All breakfasts / all dinners with local wine / all lunches with local wine
* Small group travel / maximum of only 14 guests
* Snacks and Beverages available at the villa
* Private transportation / Car & Driver for all excursions
* Local Guides / Private Tours
* Entrance Tickets
* Cooking Class
* Wine Tasting
* Chocolate Cooking Class
* Wi-Fi at the villa (be aware that Wi-Fi connections are not as fast or as reliable as in the United States)
**NOTE-
This promises to be a wonderful trip for all; however, flexibility and a spirit of adventure are always appreciated! We will do our very best to stick to the itinerary but we may have to change it due to weather or any unexpected situations.
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TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Air Transportation.
* Travel insurance for your trip.
* Anything that is not specified to be included
* Any personal related expenses or travel related expenses outside of the scheduled itineraries.
* Any wine or other alcoholic beverages or meals that are not presented during scheduled meals.
* Optional tips to restaurants, tour guides or drivers. These gratuities are given at the sole discretion of each individual traveler.