Cooking & Amarone Wine Adventure… (trip)
Cooking & Amarone Wine Adventure Tour In The Veneto
- Verona+Italy
- Culinary & Wine Travel
| from €2,150* per person | 7 Days | Year-round |
| Boutique accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy | 8 people max | |
West of Venice, discover the beautiful Valpolicella wine country hills, magnificent Lake Garda where they make olive oil, romantic Verona and plains where fine rice grows.
Drink Amarone and its relatives, Valpolicella, Ripasso and Recioto, and others with four quite different producers in wineries small and big and learn first hand how they make them.
Cook Veneto and Italian dishes with two great home cooks in their lovely homes and with two chefs in a casual restaurant and at a rice estate.
Meet a delightful variety of locals like: a slightly goofy restaurant owner, your very joyful, attentive hotel manager, a world famous risotto chef/promoter, a bread making cook at her home with amazing Lake Garda views, winery owners/experts. You’ll feel part of real Italian life!
Your well travelled, multi-lingual guide was born in Verona and loves showing people her region. You visit her family’s beautiful wine estate where she lives and helps produce Soave, rose Dindarella, Valpolicella and Amarone. They also make olive oil. You feel like a local friend is taking you to her favourite people and places!
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Locations visited/nearby
Italy, Verona, San Giorgio, Lake Garda, Isola Della Scala, Sant’ambrogio, Europe, Veneto
0 testimonials about this trip.
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
6 Night Itinerary
Saturday, Oct 13. Benvenuti—welcome!
Arrive at Verona airport or train station by mid afternoon for one group transfer. Private transport to our hotel in a scenic village, San Giorgio, about 30 minutes by car. If you’d like private transport from Venice or elsewhere, we’re happy to arrange it for an extra charge.
Get settled. The very hospitable manager welcomes you with a big smile. You’ll enjoy his thoughtful, friendly service and chats. Sit back with a welcome drink on the terrace with spectacular views all the way to Lake Garda.
Welcome dinner at the hotel’s fine restaurant with great local wines.
Sunday, Oct 14. San Giorgio Valpolicella area
Walk about two minutes from the hotel to the lovely private home for a full Veneto menu, hands-on cooking class with a passionate cook who’s been teaching since 2005. Lunch of your creations with good local wines.
After a siesta, we drive to a small nearby winery to taste the full range of their Valpolicella and Amarone wines and more.
After your multi-course lunch, you’ll want to eat light. Dinner on your own. San Giorgio has two good restaurants, two small coffee bars as well as the hotel’s restaurant. The walk from the hotel to the village is about 10 minutes up gradual slopes.
Monday, Oct 15. Lake Garda
Drive about 30 minutes through the hills to Lake Garda, famous for its stunning beauty. Drive up in the scenic hills above Bardolino to the home and agriturismo (where everything grown is organic) of an accomplished cook with a vast bread making knowledge. Make breads from Puglia focaccia to dark bread from Alto Adige in N.E. Italy with different flours, seeds etc. Enjoy a multi-course lunch in her home and take in the panoramas or walk in the woods from her property.
With your guide, take a leisurely walk and stroll along Lake Garda.
Drive to a large, well known winery in the same family for five generations and near Bardolino, overlooking Lake Garda. Taste their Bardolino, Valpolicella, Amarone, Bianco di Custoza wines and more. If you wish, visit their informative wine museum after your tasting and winery tour. Taste their olive oil too.
Around 6:00 p.m. on the shores of Lake Garda, sit back for an aperitif and some snacks, that make a great, early, light evening meal. (not included)
Drive back to your hotel for a free evening.
Tuesday, Oct 16. Verona
Your Verona born tour guide will stroll with you for the morning to tell you about Verona’s history and local life. She’ll show you main sights you may want to visit on your own in the afternoon: the Roman arena, Piazza delle Erbe with a tower you can climb for amazing city views, Juliet’s house, a less touristed historic area near the pretty Adige River, river walks, wine bars and shopping areas. Enjoy a light lunch and great Veneto wines at a wine bar in Verona. (included)
Free afternoon to explore Verona.
On the way home, visit a well known winery in a magnificent historic villa outside Verona for a tour and wine tastings. In October you’ll see the grapes for Amarone drying on special racks!
Return in the late afternoon to your hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Wednesday, Oct 17. Isola della Scala – Rice!
Drive to the town of Isola della Scala on the flat plain south of Verona, world famous for its fine rice and risottos and the ancient rice mill in operation since the 1650s. The rice producing Ferron family has owned it since 1921. You’ll learn how they make rice, see their rice mill and learn more in their rice museum.
Gabriele Ferron is world renowned as the enthusiastic ambassador of the Vialone Nano Veronese rice and travels the world giving cooking classes and seminars. You’ll learn the secrets of making the perfect risotto from Gabriele in a hands-on, private class. Afterwards, dine on an appetizer, three risottos and a dessert.
Relax for a bit in the Ferron park, before driving to the charming, quaint town of Valeggio sul Mincio. Enjoy a stroll and time to just hang out in town. Dine at a restaurant in town famous for its delicate tortellini and trout from Lake Garda. (not included)
Thursday, Oct 18. Valpolicella
Drive to a casual restaurant in a nearby town, Sant’Ambrogio for a full menu, hands-on cooking class with the outgoing owner. The restaurant kitchen is open to his deli counter and small shop so you’ll meet some of the neighbours as you’re cooking. Lunch of your creations there.
Take a short optional wine country walk nearby or a siesta.
Drive across a valley to your tour guide’s family’s winery on a lovely country estate with a villa and hill views for a tour and wine tasting. If time, optional walk in their vineyards and up a short slope.
Walk from the winery to a picturesque restaurant in an old farmhouse, now beautifully renovated while keeping its old stone walls, for your “arriverderci” dinner. They specialize in bringing back forgotten local dishes with an elegant touch.
Celebrate your week of discovering this beautiful, varied region and its welcoming people, fine wines and great food. (included)
Friday, Oct 19
After breakfast, reluctantly depart with our private transport to Verona’s train station or airport.
More information from Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy:
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