DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day one - arrive in Piemonte
You depart London Gatwick on the BA2578 at 15.45 and arrive in Turin at 18.35 . There you will meet Cindy-Marie Harvey , your tour guide , for your onward coach transfer ( journey time just under 2 hours ) to your hotel in Piemonte . This evening you will dine together at the hotel in their Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant , enjoying a 4-course menu . Cindy-Marie will pair the menu with a selection of wine as an introduction to the principal wines of the region , chosen from the hotel ’ s cellar , housed in a deconsecrated chapel in the courtyard .
Day two - Barolo day
After breakfast , you travel through the rolling hills of the Langhe , covered with their famous vines , towards the vineyards of the Barolo classification . Known as the ‘ King of wines ’, Barolo has a world-wide reputation for having great depth and complexity , with aromas of roses and tar . Our first stop is at the familyrun , multiple award-winning wine estate of G D Vajra where you discover what makes these wines so different in style according to where their vineyards are situated . The Nebbiolo grape that produces Barolo can be compared to the Pinot Noir of Burgundy in its combination of fickleness and divine qualities . Barolo is produced only from a handful of villages and you continue through the Barolo heartland to your next visit at Cordero di Montezemolo . The estate is easily recognisable by the ancient Lebanese cedar tree that overlooks their vineyard . We then continue to lunch at a local Osteria with views over the vineyards for relaxed lunch paired with wine . After lunch you drive to the small hilltop town of Cherasco , famous for two things – snails and chocolates . There will be time for a stroll before a chocolate tasting at one of the most traditional producers , which will include some inventive flavours as well as the famous Baci di Cherasco , or ‘ Cherasco kisses ’ made from chocolate with local hazelnuts . Back at the hotel in the evening there is a light supper of local salami and cheeses , bread and grissini and local hazelnuts accompanied by a selection of three local wines , perhaps a Roero Arneis , a Barbera d ’ Alba and a Langhe Nebbiolo .
Day three - Barbaresco and Alba
Today after breakfast , it is just a short drive to our first visit of the Barbaresco day . The vineyards of Barbaresco are less than 25 kms from those of Barolo , they take up about a third of the land of Barolo vineyards and are very different in style . Barbaresco is often seen as the more feminine side of Nebbiolo , with a seductive aroma of violets , roses and cherries . Your first visit is to the Produttori di Barbaresco , a leading example of how to be
Piemonte vineyards at harvest time
a co-operative producing quality rather than quantity . Their wines have won numerous awards and show the attention to detail in the vineyards owned by their 50 plus members in some of the best Barbaresco Crus including Ovello , Montestefano and Pajé . You will taste some of their wines at their cellars in the heart of the village of Barbaresco . Then you continue to another of the three villages that come under Barbaresco classification , Neive , for our next tasting at leading Barbaresco producer , Sottimano . Their wines display the classic notes of cedar , tar , roses and a hint of chocolate as you discover during our tasting , before we continue for lunch at a local Osteria that features typical Piemontese specialities . After lunch you return to the hotel for some free time before venturing out late afternoon for Alba , the main town of the Langhe , whose narrow streets are lined with a cornucopia of shops , selling of course wine but also many gastronomic delights to take home such as salami made with Barolo or tuma cheese marinated in truffles and olive oil . There is time to explore for a while before meeting again for dinner at one of the Slow Food ’ s restaurants , where you will enjoy a selection of wines to go with dinner , possibly starting with the local Agnolotti del Plin , silky parcels of stuffed pasta served with butter and sage . You return to the hotel after dinner .
Day four - Cheese and castles
This morning after breakfast , you head towards the town of Bra , where the admirable Slow Food Association was started and where its headquarters remain . Here we visit
a renowned name in the world of Piemontese cheese – Giolito . Started at the beginning of the 20th century , the company is still family-run . From their premises in Bra , they source some of the most fascinating cheeses from the region , and are specialists in ageing cheese to prime eating time . This morning , we enjoy a tasting of a range of wonderful regional cheeses at their premises . Lunch is not included today , but there is a choice of cafes and restaurants in the historical centre of Bra . You then return to the hotel for a rest and time to freshen up before you depart in the evening for a visit to one of the most imposing castles of the region at Grinzane Cavour . This castle was home to the Count of Cavour , a prime minister of Piedmont who was instrumental in the process of the unification of Italy , becoming Prime Minister of Italy for a very brief period . You visit the castle with its displays relating to the history of food and wine in the region and then enjoy an aperitif in the cellars of the castle , now the regional Enoteca before dining at the restaurant inside the castle . You return to the hotel after dinner .
Day five - Wine estate and fly home
Check-out of the hotel after breakfast , and head to your final wine tasting at the estate of Marchesi d ’ Alfieri , who have been making wine since 1696 . This is an estate immersed in the history of the region and its winemaking , situated in the hills between Alba and Asti . They are respected for their wide range of Barbera but they also make Grignolino ,
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