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Italy, Piedmont, Traveling to Italy, Turin, Traveling Italy, Italy Escorted Tours
PIEDMONT: SALONE DEL GUSTO TOUR
18-26 October/2008
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A tour that I will offer only one time to attend the Slow Food
International convention in Turin, Italy. It happens every two years. A worldwide
collaborative of farmers, chefs, and culinary craftspeople meet every
two years in late October to work toward the preservation of the essence
of what we eat, where it comes from and how it is made. Here tour participants
would be able to shake the hands of the farmer from Parma who raises the pigs
that become the very special Parma hams, and the cheese maker who milks the
cows and makes the real Parmesan cheese. The Slow Food philosophy embraces
the need to preserve the integrity of food's origin, its taste, and its
honored preparation, founded upon the cultures and traditions of small,
independent artisans who take great pride in the methods, manners and incredible
products of their livelihood.
The goal is to build a sense of relationship,
loyalty and community as food is eaten, from the moment of a seedŐs planting
or the birth of an animal, through its conversion as food to the point where i
t enters the mouth and the inspired taste of the consumer.
The date of this
wonderful convention in 2008 is October 21-28.
Our group will be strictky limited to
14 people.
We
are now taking pre-booking reservations, since this event receives worldwide
attention, and hotels will be in high demand.
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SALONE DEL GUSTO TOUR ITINERARY October 18-26/2008
October 18 Sat. Day 1 - Arrival day
Arrival at Milano Malpensa airport. Transfer by private coach to Hotel
Villa San Carlo in Cortemilia, a well-known wine town near Turin. Welcome
drink and a brief look at CarloŐs wine cellar. Gourmet dinner with a Grand
Tasting Menu paired with 4 wines. Caffé, after-dinner drink and "buona notte."
October 19 Sun. Day 2 - Relaxing day/Truffle hunting
Colazione alla Piemontese. Breakfast Piedmont style before a truffle hunting
outing with a famous local "trifulao," (truffle hunter). Light lunch to savor
the truffles found, dessert and a properly-paired wine, before heading out on
the Strada delle Nocciole (Hazelnut Road). Visit the quaint village of
Bergolo and the medieval, well kept, castle of Prunetto with a visit accompanied
by an English-speaking guide.
Return to Cortemilia in the afternoon for a cooking class with Carlo. We will
participate in preparing our evening dinner.
October 20 Mon. Day 3 - Wine tasting class/Roero
After breakfast our first wine tasting class.
Ľ This class is designed to teach tasting techniques and the aging and
refining process.
After a light lunch, we will take a private tour with an English-speaking
guide of the Roero district, an area with its own DOC (Denomination of
Controlled Origin) that produces some excellent red wines with a 95% base
of Nebbiolo grapes. Visit of a winery, famous for its white wines Arneis
and Favorita and tasting of locally-made Barbera. The winery owner will guide
our tasting. Return to Cartemilia in the evening for a dinner paired with 4
wines, coffee, after-dinner drink andÉ"buona notte."
October 21 Tue. Day 4 - Acqui Terme/Wine and Spa
Today we will visit another famous winery with tasting of their production
located in Acqui Terme, a renewed Spa town. We will drive along the panoramic
cheese road with a stop at Roccaverano for a wine and cheese tasting.
At the
spa you can choose between a "Chocolate beauty day" (please, call us for details)
or "Cleopatra beauty day" or a "Mud bath and massage" or a "Stone massage." The
choice is totally up to you. Time for strolling along its streets with excellent
shopping opportunities or visit the very interesting medieval area. Return to our
hotel where Carlo will prepare another banquet for us.
October 22 Wed. Day 5 - Torino - city of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
Morning ride to Turin, home of the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. Turin is a very
elegant and sophisticated town, Italy's former capital city, and before that, the
seat of its Royal Family. The city has preserved intact its elegant ŇpalazzosÓ and
other attractions from that era. Beautiful shops and miles of "portici" (arcades)
make Turin an ideal place for shopping and outdoor meetings before lunch or dinner.
Its "Gianduiotto" a tender soft paste made of first quality cocoa and hazelnuts
(another local product) are not to be missed. Walking guided tour with an
English-speaking guide and free time in the afternoon for personal activities.
Return to Hotel Villa San Carlo for dinner and overnight.
October 23 Thu. Day 6 - Lago Maggiore
After breakfast travel to the Lago Maggiore area, one of Piedmont's best kept
secrets. Lake Maggiore is the most beautiful of the Italian lakes with the
Alps mountains as its backdrop and its two unique islands. Guided tour of
"Isola Bella" and the quaint villages around the lake. On the way to the lake
we will stop to visit the "Ricetto di Candelo" a medieval fortified village that
used to be a refuge for stranded medieval pilgrims.
At the end of the day return to Villa San Carlo.
October 24 Fri. Day 7 - Salone del Gusto
Transfer to Torino exposition area for the Salone del Gusto opening day. Full-day
at the convention. Return to Villa San Carlo for dinner and overnight.
October 25 Sat. Day 8 - Truffle Market in Alba or Salone del Gusto
After breakfast departure for Alba to enjoy its weekly outdoor market that includes
its fascinating truffle market. This unique and interesting happening is well worth
the trip. Free time for lunch.
Afternoon visit of the Grinzane Cavour castle that houses the Enoteca Regionale
del Piemonte, the largest wine and Grappa library in Northern Italy. We will also
visit a Torrone makerŐs artisan laboratory. Optional Tour: Return for a full day
at Salone del Gusto instead of the Alba visit. Return to Cortemilia in the evening
for the Gala and Farewell dinner, as always, paired with 4 wines. Buona notte!!
October 26 Sun. Day 9 - Departure
Early transfer to Milano Malpensa airport for departure.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
∗ 8 nights accommodations based on double occupancy
∗ Breakfast daily
∗ Dinner daily with paired wines
∗ Wine tasting as indicated in the itinerary
∗ 1 cooking class
∗ Truffle hunting
∗ Wine taster diploma
∗ Transportation as per itinerary
∗ Airport transfers at pre-arranged time∗
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PACKAGE PRICE: €2,299, per person, based on double occupancy.
PLEASE NOTE: PRICE INDICATED IN EURO CORRENCY
USE THE CALCULATOR TO FIND THE EQUIVALENT IN USA
DOLLARS.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
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TOUR'S HIGHLIGHTS:
• Wine tasting classes included
• 4 paired wines with dinner included in the package price
• Winery visits and tasting included
• Spa experience
• Transportation as per itinerary
• Milano Malpensa airport transfers
• Participation Salone del Gusto international convention
• Fully escorted by Gabriele
√ NOT INCLUDED: Items of a personal nature, gratuity of any kind, wine with
meals; optional tours, meals not specified in itinerary.
∗Transportation to and from the airport is provided by "Gabriele's
Travels to Italy"
at a pre-announced time. Arrangements can be made for individuals whose arrival
and departure cannot be worked into this schedule. An additional charge will result
for individual transfers.
Prices contained in this proposal are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect
at the time of printing and are subject to availability, confirmation and are subject
to change without notice.
We reserve the right to cancel this tour due to lack of participants or for
circumstances eyond our control. In this case, a full refund of all payments
will be made.
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FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: 1-888/287-8733
or email:
info@travelingtoitaly.com
Download tour color brochure (free)
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