Itinerary

Day One: Arrival to Milan Malpensa Airport. Airport meet-and-greet and private transfer 1 hour 45 minutes to your
hotel in the Langhe region, where outstanding Nebbiolo and other wine grapes flourish on the region’s steep slopes.
Afternoon leisurely walking tour of the small, well-heeled town of Alba. Accommodations: Castello di Sinio, a small,
stylish and thoroughly delightful 11th-century castle located in a charming village virtually untouched by tourism.

Day Two: A Day in Wine Country with private guide. Introduction to the wines of the Langhe at the enoteca of
Grinzane Cavour, an imposing hilltop castle, to include private tastings of a range of local wines including Barbaresco,
Barolo, Dolcetto and Barbera, or a mix of reds and whites such as Arneis, Gavi and Moscato d’Asti. Private guided
visit to two celebrated Barolo producers featuring private tours, tastings and winemaker/estate-owner meetings. Lunch
with your guide featuring the refined and very unique cuisine of the region. Late afternoon at leisure at your hotel.
Accommodations: Castello di Sinio

Day Three: A full-day, customized private excursion to the Piemontese capital of Torino (private transfer: 1 hour),
former capital of the Duchy of Savoy, the first capital of a unified Italy and host of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
Underrated Torino is also a great food city. Some options for your customized program might include a tour of the city’s
exceptional baroque piazzas, exposure to Torino’s rich café tradition and exploration of some of the gastronomic hot spots
of Torino (think chocolate!) including Eataly (a poorly-named gastronomic emporium), food markets and shops featuring
exceptional Italian pastries, chocolates and cheeses. On the cultural front, visits could include the cathedral, the National
Museum of Cinema, the Museo Egizio, one of the world’s most important museums of Egyptian art, or the Royal Palace
and its beautiful gardens. Lunch with your guide is included. Accommodations: Castello di Sinio

Day Four: Morning at leisure at your castle hotel. After lunch on your own, your wine guide will escort you to private
tours, tastings and winemaker/estate owner meetings at two outstanding producers of Barbaresco, where you’ll have
opportunities to sample other regional reds, such as Barbera d’Asti, and whites, such as Moscato d’Asti. Accommodations:
Castello di Sinio

Day Five: Morning transfer to the village of Santo Stefano Belbo for a hands-on cooking lesson with Mrs. Anna and her
daughter Luisella at their farmhouse. You will prepare homemade Agnolotti del Plin, a small stuffed pasta typical of the
area, along with antipasti and nocciole, a chocolate and hazelnut concoction that pairs very well with the Moscato d’Asti
produced by the proprietors. Included in the antipasti course will be a lecture on some of the fabulous local cheeses of the
area such as Murrazzano or Toma. Following lunch of your creations, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Accommodations: Castello di Sinio

Day Six: Morning private transfer 3 hours 30 minutes to Bologna, one of our favorite cities in Italy. The gastronomic
capital of the country will also inspire you with its stunning architecture, highlighted by miles and miles of arcades, and its
lively nature (Bologna is home to the oldest university in Europe). En route, enjoy private visits and tastings (with guide) to
a family-run producer of certified Parmagiano-Reggiano and a producer of traditional balsamic vinegar, where product is
aged for as long as 25 years and is much more dynamic than commercial balsamico, with which most people are familiar.
Lunch, featuring these specialties and the famous prosciutto di parma and culatello di zibello of the region, is included.
Late afternoon at leisure in Bologna. Accommodations: Grand Hotel Baglioni, an elegant old-world property situated in
close proximity to the main square, Piazza Maggiore.

Day Seven: Full-day Epicurean Walking Tour of Bologna with a private guide. Visit key cultural sites such as the great
leaning towers of Bologna (Torre degli Asinelli and Torre degli Garisenda), the Basilica di San Petronio, and the National
Picture Gallery, featuring Renaissance masterworks, as well as epicurean venues such as the Mercato di Mezzo and the
finest food shops and heavenly delis of Bologna. For lunch with your guide, we suggest a family-run establishment where
you can sample sensational region specialties such as tagliatelle al ragu, lasagna or tortellini. Time will be allotted for
shopping on your own. Optional evening cooking lesson with dinner. Accommodations: Grand Hotel Baglioni

Day Eight: Morning at leisure. Late morning transfer 1 hour 45 minutes to the lovely Chianti Classico region between
Florence and Siena. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodations: Castello del Nero, a five-star boutique resort ideally situated
in the Chianti Hills

Day Nine: A day in Wine Country: We’ll customize a wine program for you in the Chianti Classico region or in
Montalcino, our favorite wine village in Tuscany and the epicenter of exceptional Brunellos. Lunch with your private guide
is included. Accommodations: Castello del Nero

Day Ten: Practically Nothing! Day of leisure at your castle hotel. Perhaps you’ll venture out to one of the nearby
villages. Optional private guided excursion to one of the arts cities of the region such as Florence, Siena or Arezzo.
Accommodations: Castello del Nero

Day Eleven: Start with a traditional Tuscan culinary lesson at a Michelin-star restaurant in Southern Tuscany. Lunch
is included. Late afternoon at leisure at your castle hotel. Accommodations: Castello del Nero

Day Twelve: Private transfer to the Florence airport for departure.

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