Wine Lovers’ Delights in Piedmont’s… (trip)
Wine Lovers’ Delights in Piedmont’s Barolo Wine Country
- Turin Airport, Italy
- Culinary & Wine Travel
“I heard about the Italian Cooking Schools through a couple of my friends, that had used Margaret Cowan to arrange… ”
| from €2,105* per person | 5 Days | Year-round |
| Boutique accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy | 8 people max | |
Visit a variety of wineries, from small family run to medium size producers. Talk, drink and laugh with a cast of warm, very hospitable local wine people, all eager to share their stories and passion for their wines. At trattorias and restaurants you get warm welcomes and revel in Piedmontese specialties like delicate tagliatelle with white truffles. You stay at a pretty, family-run three star hotel in the town of Barolo with views of its medieval castle or get an upgrade to a lovely four star villa hotel in a Barolo wine town.
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Locations visited/nearby
Italy, La Morra, Barbareasco, Ca Nova, Europe, Piedmont - Piemonte
1 testimonial about this trip
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Reviewer: Tom Fraser
located in
Atlanta,
GA
USA
I heard about the Italian Cooking Schools through a couple of my friends, that had used Margaret Cowan to arrange their culinary trips. I contacted ICS to inquire if they could make the arrangements for a wine trip to Piedmont.
I have just returned from my second incredible trip to Piedmont. Since getting interested in wine, I have traveled to Germany, France and Italy. The trips that ICS/Margaret Cowan have planned have been the smoothest. She has arranged visits with some ofPiedmont’s most famous winemakers. All of the people that ICS/Margaret use are extremely professional.
One of my greatest experiences was when our driver stopped for lunch. The restaurant is owned by a mother and her son. She does all the cooking at her home every morning at 4 a.m. because there is no stove in her restaurant! We got one of the most flavorful meals of the entire trip, and it was the least expensive also! We were surrounded by locals, who recognize quality and value. I have fallen in love withItalyand ICS/Margaret make going so easy.
2 testimonials about the provider, Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy:
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Reviewer: Maurizio Cozzo
located in
Hanover,
New Hampshire
USA
"Mo and I wanted to thank you again for arranging for us a most enjoyable and memorable vacation in Italy. I've been travelling to Italy at least once a year since 1980, when I met Mo. I've always enjoyed my yearly visits to Italy immensely, however, "Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures in Italy" was exceptional. I repeatedly tell my family and friends it was just too good. So good, I fear all my future trips to Italy will pale in comparison.
Carmen was an absolute delight. She did everything she possibly could to make our stay in Italy perfect and perfect it was. Carmen was a joy to be with in addition to being a font of knowledge. She seemed to know everything about everything--the history, battles, castles, churches, towns, festivals, wines, cheeses, olive oil and food in general. I could go on forever.
Elio was the perfect gentleman. Although Elio was not able to accompany us every day of the tour, we knew he was with us in spirit and via his cellphone. Elio was in contact with Carmen daily to make sure all was well. He is a very caring person.
Toscana was great, but we absolutely loved Piemonte. All the cooking lessons were great with the various chefs--each with his or her own unique personality. What a perfect combination--to be able to laugh and learn at the same time. "
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Reviewer: Jeff and Nanci Shapiro
located in
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
"I would like to take the time to tell you how much Nanci and I enjoyed our gastronomical trip to Emilia-Romagna. We've spent most of the week since we've been back telling people about it. We are in awe of the energy and graciousness of our host and hostess (Marcello & Raffaella). We saw, tasted, and experienced things we never would have on our own. We met people--parmesan cheese maker, 5th generation balsamic vinegar maker/patriarch, Italy's best sfoglina (pasta maker), and much more. What a treat it was to gaze out the window of an ancient monastery, now hotel, overlooking dozens of sets of fireworks as the new millenium started. A very romantic moment neither of us will forget.
We thought the price/value of the trip was exceedingly fair. Nanci is not the cook in the family...I even overheard her telling a friend she would do it again! We are your biggest fans."
Itinerary
Day 1Meet your group at Turin airport or railway station before leaving for the Barolo wine country, about a one hour drive south. Stay in a three star hotel in Barolo with swimming pool and beautiful views of Barolo castle or at a lovely four star villa hotel with gardens and swimming pool in the town, Monforte.
Dine in a typical restaurant, drinking great local wines and eating authentic Piedmont specialties.
Day 2
10:00 a.m. Explore the La Morra area. Drive along its winding country roads and gaze at spectacular views of the verdant Barolo wine valley below. You get a warm welcome at a winery like Rocche Castamagno in La Morra, where you taste their wines on their terrace with panoramas of poetic hills.
Enjoy a light lunch in a great restaurant or wine bar nearby.
2:30 p.m. Drive down the hill to Gigi Rosso, a medium size, family run winery, where the very hospitable owners await you. This charming couple is an encyclopedia of facts about Barolo wine and tells you everything you always wanted to know about Barolo as you tour their winery and drink their wines together.
4:30 p.m. Drive back up the hill to experience two wineries, long time next door neighbors, who share stunning wine country views. Mauro Veglio is a smaller family run winery where the knowledgeable, gregarious wife takes you through your wine tastings and shares her family’s wine stories with you around their cozy tasting room table.
Next door, visit the well known Elio Altare winery, one of the main “modern style” Barolo producers who use barriques. With one of his daughters, you tour their cellars, taste their wines and as you relax around the table, you may hear the inspiring story of Elio Altare’s comeback that made him the mentor for Barolo wine makers today.
Tonight you’ll dine at another fine restaurant, like the Real Castello that offers internationally acclaimed dishes like an onion tatra, risotto pink with Barolo and guinea hen with rosemary and bunet, a cocoa pudding with crushed amaretti.
Day 3
10:30 Drive up through the magnificent Barolo wine country hills to the Barbaresco wine country. Outside Barbaresco, you arrive at a small, family run winery for a tasting and light lunch with their fine Barbaresco wine with the effervescent Grasso family.
2:30 Drive into the small hill town of Barbaresco to experience a very different wine adventure at the large Produttori Barbaresco, the co-operative Barbaresco winery of about 60 producers, whose wines sell internationally, for a tour and tastings.
4:30 p.m. Outside Barbaresco, visit the small Ca Nova, a family winery with typically old style traditions and hospitality. Around the wooden table in front of the fireplace, with the quiet but very hospitable owner, you relax and taste his great wines.
Dine at one of our favourite restaurants surrounded by hills of vineyards near Barbaresco. Effervescent Chef Patrizia welcomes you like old friends. You savor exquisite plates like rolls of roasted peppers with tuna stuffing and topped with a savory parsley sauce delicate, hand made tajarin pasta, rabbit with Barbaresco sauce and yummy desserts like semifreddo with strawberries.
Day 4
10:00 Drive to the small city of Alba, and visit the famous Pio Cesare winery, one of the biggest producers of Barolo whose excellent wines sell all over the world.
Enjoy a light lunch in Alba, a bustling small city with a delightful medieval heart where you have time to explore. Browse gastronomy shops with intriguing names like “Peccati Della Gola” or “sins of the throat”. Grab a cappuccino in the main piazza with its imposing cathedral dating back to 1486. This is the life, Mama-style!
3:00 p.m. Escape back to the wine country hills to visit another great Barolo winery for a private tour and tasting.
8:00 Drive to the pretty little town of Barolo, where modern Barolo wine making began.
At the Brezza family’s wine cellar, the father or son of the warm, friendly family takes you on a short tour before you sit around a long wooden table lit by candles in their cellar. As you taste their wines together, the conversation wanders from wines to family to philosophy of life.
Upstairs dine in their restaurant and eat wonderful, classic Piemontese dishes like Brasato al Barolo, a veal roll simmered in vegetables, herbs and lots of Barolo wine. Divine desserts like semifreddo of torrone (hazelnut nougat candy) with chocolate sauce prove irresistible to you.
Day 5
You reluctantly depart for Turin or for Alba’s train station and leave your new Piedmont friends, taking with you heartfelt memories of all the laughter, sensual experiences, beauty, food and wine you shared together.
More information from Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy:
- View trip on provider's website
www.italycookingschools.com/tours-in-italy/northern-italy/pie… - Company profile, experience, and history
- View all of their trips
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