From Rome to Tuscany, to Piemonte
on the wine route of Sangiovese and Barolo

Day 1 - Friday, October 12, 2012
Roma
Meeting of participants at the Hotel Residenza Farnese. This cozy 4-star hotel is an old monastery and it is located in the historical downtown, near Campo de' Fiori, San Pietro, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
The trip officially starts with a welcome dinner focused on regional food and wines of Lazio, the region where we are - the region around Rome.

Day 2 - Saturday, October 13, 2012
Roma-Montalcino-San Gimignano
Everyone should pack up, have breakfast, check out and be ready to leave by 09:00 for a 3-hour scenic drive to Tuscany through Umbria. We stop at Montalcino, on the top of one of the most known wine hills of Tuscany. The Brunello di Montalcino wine, made 100% of Sangiovese Grosso, has a great potential to age with time due to the grape's great thick skin rich in polyphenols and tannins. Expect some great wine tasting here!
After a short visit at the Castello and the Enoteca and some time for lunch and shopping, we depart for San Gimignano where we will check in at Hotel Leon Bianco.
San Gimignano is the home of the first white Italian DOC wine, which is now a well-known DOCG (the top Italian wine appellation), made with Vernaccia grapes. The village is one of the most fascinating medieval towns with many stone tall towers marking the landscape.
The Hotel is located in the historical Piazza della Cisterna, in an ancient palace of the 11th century, now restored.

Day 3 - Sunday, October 14, 2012
Radda in Chianti, Siena, Montalcino
After breakfast we drive through the Chanti Classico hills and we stop for a visit and tasting to Badia a Castelbuono in Gaiole in Chianti, an ancient monastery and palace hosting underground wine cellars. The tour and tasting of wine and olive oil here is spectacular! A guided itinerary through the rooms of the castle and a theme tasting!
Then we drive to Siena where everyone is free to walk in the town, shop and visit the famous Piazza del Campo and the medieval towers.
Back to San Gimignano in the evening.

Day 4 - Monday, October 15, 2012
COOKING DAY!
Today is the day to become acquainted with the true Tuscan cuisine with Vilma.
Vilma works and lives in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, near Firenze where she owns a homemade pasta shop. Her passion for the Tuscan cuisine is in her eyes! You will notice it right away!
First of all, in the morning, after our cappuccino (remember...cappuccino is a breakfast item for Italians.....!) we go shopping at local stores with Vilma. If you are a bit familiar with Italian language, you will recognize that beautiful Florentine accent of Vilma negotiating the daily price of meat and bread with local shop owners!
We then participate in a demo and hands-on pasta making seminar. We put our hands at work while making all kinds of fresh pasta shapes: tortelli, ravioli, fettuccine and more.
An Italian meal does NOT include only pasta, therefore we will still gather around Vilma's kitchen where we cook the rest of the meal, eat, taste wine ... and perhaps have a siesta!

Day 5 - Tuesday, October 16, 2012
From Tuscany to Piedmont: from Chianti Classico to Alba and Langhe
Everyone should pack up, have breakfast, check out and be ready to leave by 09:00.
In 2011 the tour participants wanted to stop for some shopping, so we discovered a nice outlet shopping plaza full of trendy brands and wonderful prices. We will add this to every tour now!
We plan to arrive to our hotel in Alba in the afternoon. We reach the heart of the Barolo and Barbaresco region and prepare to spend the next three nights in the smiling town of Alba, where the annual October truffle festival (Sagra del Tartufo Bianco di Alba) is held. Dinner and free time in Alba.

Day 6 - Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Barolo
His majesty 'The Barolo' awaits us at the Enoteca Regionale located in the magnificent castle. We taste, learn and visit the museum and castle with a local guide.
The challenge of this visit, today, is to recognize an old style Barolo producer from a new style Barolo producer!
In the afternoon we are off to visit the village, some other wineries, one of the most famous producers of Barolo and enjoy a TRUFFLE HUNTING in the woods! (optional).

Day 7 - Thursday, October 18, 2012
Barbaresco
After breakfast we drive downhill and then uphill again to the village of Barbaresco. Some people call the Barbaresco wine the smaller brother of Barolo. I totally disagree. Do you want to know why? Find the answer to this today, when we enter this world!
We start with a visit and tasting at a well known winery located in one of the best exposed cru vineyards of this region: Rabaja.
Then we stop in the main village 'piazza' to visit the unique ‘church’ hosting the Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco.
We finish the day by visiting another couple of producers.
In the late afternoon we go back to our home base in Alba.

Day 8 - Friday, October 19, 2012
Cinque Terre
'a cultural site of outstanding value' --World Heritage Committee
Everyone should pack up, have breakfast, check out and be ready to leave by 09:00.
After a half-day drive through the Appennini mountain chain and a stop to a mountain cheese factory (Murazzano DOP cheese) owned by a small family, we arrive at the sea, in Manarola, one of the five enchanting villages of Cinque terre. The evening is free for the participants. (See notes below on what to do in Cinque Terre!)

Day 9 - Saturday, October 20, 2012
Cinque Terre
Train, boat, short trail on foot. We will try them all today! From our hotel, we will take the short and beautiful train ride to Riomaggiore, the first of the 5 villages. Our daily passes, included in the package, is a convenient hassle-free way to travel in Cinque Terre. From Riomaggiore we walk one of the most famous trails in the world called “La Via dell’Amore”. No words for this. . . Unbeatable scenarios!
Then ... a boat ride to the next village! (or the train again, if you don’t feel at ease to use sea transportation).
We have lots of time to visit each village, to discover their culinary products and to stop at the enoteche to try the famous Sciacchetra’ dessert wine, among the best sweet wines in the world!
We cheer our Arrivederci! with a delightful dinner on the sea! And no tears allowed, please! We will be back!!!

Day 10 - Sunday, October 21, 2012
Florence - End tour
Everyone should pack up, have breakfast, check out and be ready to leave by 09:00.
We take the train to Florence, where we should arrive learly afternoon (around 2pm).

End of tour.

TIPS FOR CINQUE TERRE
After the extravagance of the past days, you deserve to spend the last day of the tour in a unique site, proclaimed a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Cinque Terre are five small villages embedded like stones in the rocks, rapidly descending to the sea. The best way to travel here is by train, boat or by foot. Remember that this is a day to rest, enjoy the water view and cradle with the soothing sound of the sea waves.
From the hotel, you can take the short and beautiful train ride to any of the other villages.
A convenient and inexpensive daily pass, that can be bought at any train station, is a hassle-free way to travel in Cinque Terre. Don't miss a walk on the world-famous trail on the sea cliff called “La Via dell’Amore”. No words for this unbeatable scenario!
If you want, you can also take a boat ride to complete your 'village-hopping' day! You will have lots of time to discover their culinary products and to stop at the enoteche to try the above mentioned Sciacchetra’.

Of course, wine is not missing. Man was able to cultivate these steep mountains by building terraces. The challenge is up at harvest time! Monorails with carts are driven by patient farmers who go up and down several times to harvest just a few bunches. The most cultivated grape is Vermentino, whose wine is best paired with the local fish cuisine. One of the best dessert wines I have ever tried is produced on these hills. It is unfortunately not known in Canada and it is called Sciacchetra’, which is definitely something to try. It will make the entire trip worthwhile!