On this gastronomic wine tour we’ll discover, at source, many of Italy’s famous delicacies in the culinary heartland of Italy, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte. Explore the wonderful food markets and enjoy great wines along with the huge variety of local foods.

We begin in Turin, capital of Piemonte and one of Italy’s gastronomic centres with a tasting over dinner at a classic restaurant. Turin was where chocolate was first made in Europe and there are still many artisan chocolate producers in the historic centre where you can taste if you wish.

In Piedmont in North West Italy, our wine tastings start with the highly charismatic Matteo Ascheri. Our base for the next few days is his contemporary architect designed winery-hotel above the cellars. Ascheri is one of the movers and shakers in the Barolo wine region. Our Barolo tastings start with the small estate of Vajra, where the vineyard is all important and the hands-on wine making proves that small can be very beautiful. Lunch today is as guests of Cordero di Montezemolo who have some outstanding vineyard sites resulting in impressive wines such as Enrico VI.

In Barbaresco we visit the Produttori di Barbaresco, whose outstanding quality belies the cooperative nature of the winery. There is almost nowhere else in the world where the best wines from a great appellation are made at the local co-op. We spend lunchtime, which is market day, in Alba. Here you can wander from stall to stall: cheeses, sausages, fruit and most importantly, truffles!

Our final dinner will be with our charismatic host Matteo Ascheri at his family’s welcoming Osteria. Here we will experience traditional dishes served with his unusual Viognier and stunning single vineyard Barolo. Our last day rounds up with a visit to the Antinori owned Prunotto who have some of the best sites in Barolo and Barbaresco, from which they make some of the most sought after wines in the region.

At the Produttori del Barbaresco we discover why they have the reputation as one of the best co-operatives in Italy. The 60 members own 100 hectares of the great vineyards. Private growers work closely with the Produttori too as they give marketing support and hail protection for the region.

After this we meet a truffle hunter, go truffle hunting and then enjoy lunch with truffles! In the afternoon we’ll explore the chocolate town of Cherasco and in the evening, dine at the Slow Food Association’s own Osteria.

G. D. Vajra shows how extreme attention to the vineyard and hands-on winemaking prove that small is beautiful. Aldo Vajra’s Barolos, Barbera and Nebbiolo are great. Aldo personifies the attitude of many wine makers in the region; deeply respecting tradition, but searching for ways to improve on it.

Lunch follows as guests of the top estate Cordero di Montezemolo. They have outstanding vineyards in the heart of Barolo giving impressive wines such as their ‘Enrico VI’. In the afternoon we’ll explore Alba and return this evening to search out one of its great but simple restaurants.

Emilia-Romagna is a region more famous for its food than its wine, but it has some surprises in store for us! Lambrusco is widely thought of as a commercial concoction. However the estate-produced Lambrusco di Sorbara, despite not trying to be ‘serious’, is a frothy drink with assertive cherry notes and a slightly bitter rasp – a good wine to match with the local food.

Terre Rosse, the leading quality estate in the Colli Bolognesi, has been a standard bearer for organics since long before it became fashionable. They work outside the DOC making superb ‘Vino da Tavola’ mostly from French varietals. They are believers in allowing wines to display their character unmasked by oak. We taste over a delicious lunch with the hospitable Vallania family.

True Balsamic Vinegar, Aceto Balsamico di Modena, is so intense that a mere drop adds piquancy to dishes from duck to strawberries. We visit Acetaia Malpighi, to see the production and ageing process. We also learn about Emilia-Romagna’s other great gourmet products: Culatello, the top cru of Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese with visits to leading artisan producers.

For this part of the tour we stay in the small attractive city of Reggio-Emilia with its unusual hexagonal plan and its fine Romanesque and Baroque churches.

We are delighted that Jane Hunt M.W, one of the most highly respected authorities on Italian wine will lead the tour and share her love of the country with you.