Guided Tour Sample Itineraries
#1
Cooking & Wine Adventure in Tuscany: 6 days for 6 friends
#2
Food Lover's Adventure in the Hill Towns of Umbria
6 days for 6 friends
#3
Cooking, Wine & Walks in Piedmont's Barolo Wine Country
2 days for a couple

Cooking & Wine Lovers' Adventure in Tuscany

A group of six men from California, who'd known each other or years, were celebrating the big 4-0 birthday of the group organizer. Two of the men own wineries so they wanted a variety of wine experiences.

Sunday

Arrive at Chiusi train station. Private transfer with your guide to a pleasant pensione in Pienza.
8:00 Welcome dinner with your guide in a local restaurant.

Monday

10:00 Cooking lesson with the "full of joy of life" Sandra on her family farm, between Pienza and Montepulciano.The family has 5 children, makes pecorino cheese and sells their pasta abroad. Lunch of your creations. Visit the animals on the farm. Free time.
3:30 Drive to Banfi winery in country south of Montalcino for 4:00 tour of this huge winery.
8:00 Dinner at one of our favourite restaurants in Pienza.

Tuesday

10:30. Drive to visit Sant’Antimo, a lovely 1000 year old Romanesque church set in an idyllic valley south of Montalcino with cypresses zigzagging up hills, vineyards, olive trees and fields.
12:30 Visit Alberto at his organic B & B to see how he makes olive oil the artisan way using the traditional granite wheel. Lunch and discussion on all you want to know about olive oil with Alberto.
2:30 Visit cellars and vineyards at a very hospitable Brunello producer and friend of Alberto’s at their country property. Free time.
8:00 Dinner in Pienza at another good restaurant.

Wednesday

10:30 Visit cellars and vineyards at a medium size Brunello winery in Sant’Angelo in Colle, a village on a hill south of Montalcino. Light lunch on your own.
Drive up into the hills of Mount Amiata for 4:00 cooking lesson with "passionate about food & life" Roberto, owner/chef of a restaurant famous for mushroom dishes and desserts.
Dinner of your creations there accompanied by wines specially selected by Roberto.

Thursday

10:00 Walk with your guide in Montepulciano, a larger medieval walled hill town with lovely Renaissance palaces, lots of good shops and fine views. Wine tasting at a family wine producer's shop with visit to their 13th century grotto cellars. Light pizza lunch in Montepulciano.
Free time to shop or walk.
4:00 Cooking lesson with Patrizia at her restaurant in little hill town of Montefollonico.
6:15 or so. Walk 100 metres to winery to visit cellars and vineyards of a great Vino Nobile wine producer and philosopher.
8:00 Dinner of your creations at Patrizia's restaurant.

Friday

11:00 Guided walk in Montalcino, a hill town famous for Brunello wine, one of Italy's top reds.
12:00 Brunello wine tasting and light lunch in the wine bar and shop in the medieval fortress in Montalcino.
4:00 Cooking lesson at a nicely renovated medieval stone trattoria with Gianni in a hill top village.
8:00 Dinner of your creations.

Saturday

After breakfast private transport by minvan to Chiusi train station.

Price in 2004 per person, double occupancy for group of 6 was 1690 Euros or about $2788 Cdn or $2280 U.S. In December 2004 the Euro is about $1.65 Cdn and $1.35 U.S.

   Food Lovers' Adventure in Italy's Green Heart: The Hill Towns of Umbria

   A group of six women friends shared this adventure with local guide Agata in September 2004.

Sunday

Arrival in Bevagna. Get settled in B & B in the hills covered with olive trees, owned by very hospitable, 60 something local couple who make olive oil. Visit lovely, medieval Bevagna walking from the B&B. Dinner in a very nice restaurant in Bevagna centre.

Monday

Visit an olive oil mill in Trevi, see how olive oil is produced, taste oils.

Drive to visit the famous Arnaldo Caprai winery and taste their Sagrantino wine, now considered one of the best red wines in Italy. Light lunch buffet during the tasting wine at Caprai winery with a typical Umbria food: porchetta, salumi, cheese and of course a good glass of wine.

Drive to Deruta famous for its ceramics studios and factories. Free time to visit and shop.
Dinner in the historic centre of the hill town of Trevi in a typical trattoria.

Tuesday

Visit Norcia famous all over Italy for its salami, prosciutto and meats.  Tour a "salumificio" to see how meats are cured. Lunch at a typical restaurant nearby. Explore Norcia's historic centre with Italian foodie shops and lovely medieval piazza.

Back home to Bevagna for a rest. Cooking lesson at your country B & B home with owner, Maria on full menu of dishes with farro, ceci beans, lentils and more. A wonderful lesson and food! Dinner of your creations there.

Wednesday

Drive to Perugia, Umbria's capital, which boasts Etruscan and Roman monuments, lovely historic centre with architecture of many periods, art museums and a main street full of shops, cafes and bakeries. Perugia is also home to the famous Baci--kisses--chocolates and is famous for chocolate. Walkon your own in the historic centre. Light lunch in Perugia centre, in a beautiful and famous "bar" in the main street, Corso Vannucci.

Afternoon free for shopping in the beautiful shops of Perugia. Back to Bevagna. Dinner in a very nice wine bar and trattoria in Foligno.

Thursday

Morning free. Afternoon cooking lesson at the B&B with Chef Tommaso on truffle dishes. Dinner of your creations follows.

Friday

Drive to Spello, a beautiful medieval hill town of pink stone with fabulous views. Walk in Spello.

Drive to Assisi guided visit with a local guide in the famous church of St. Francis with frescoes by Giotto, and in the historic centre. Free hour to explore and shop in Assisi. Lunch around Assisi.

In the afternoon drive to Spoleto for a walk of this lovely hill town. Gala dinner in Spoleto at a very nice restaurant.

Saturday

Departure after breakfast.

Price in 2004 was 2000 Euros (about $3300 Cdn, $2700 US) per person, based on six people, double occupancy.

Cooking, Wine & Walks in Piedmont's Barolo Wine Country

We designed this tour for a well travelled, professional couple who love Barolo, Barolo and Barolo! It was a dream come true! After the tour, they told me it was the best holiday they'd ever had! They requested their favourite Barolo wine producers for their itinerary.

Monday

Private transport from Turin to Hotel Real Castello in Verduno, former summer home of King Carlo Alberto in the 1840s. Country walk on pathways or quiet roads to admire lovely series of hills covered with vineyards, fields or nut trees.

Visit cellars of Real Castello where they age the wine. They make a special Barolo level wine made only in the Verduno area, the spicy Pelaverga.
Dinner at Real Castello.

Tuesday

Visit Gigi Rosso winery-- medium size, family run and wonderful hospitality--between Barolo and Alba. Light lunch in a restaurant.
Country walk.
Winery visit with Massolino.
Return to Real Castello.
Dinner at a local trattoria.

Wednesday

Check in at a beautiful villa B & B in the country near Barolo with 180 degree views of the wine county hills. Rooms are beautifully decorated with refinement and taste, lovely fabrics, colours and furniture.
Visit Vietti winery in Castiglione Falletto. Light lunch in a restaurant.
Country walk.
Cooking lesson full menu with Chef Christina at a restaurant in Castiglione Falletto. Dinner of your creations there.

Thursday

Visit Giacomo Conterno winery. Fine wines and outstanding hospitality. Light lunch in a restaurant.
Country walk.
Visit Brezza cellars in town of Barolo.
Dinner in their excellent restaurant above their winery with views of Barolo castle and vineyards. Fantastic Brasato al Barolo!

Friday

Visit Domenico Clerico winery. Fine wines and outstanding hospitality. Light lunch in a restaurant.
Country walk.
Visit Alessandria winery.
Cooking lesson full menu at your country villa with Marina, a great home cook and villa owner. Dinner in her nice dining room.

Saturday

Walk in the country.
Visit Scavino winery. Light lunch in a restaurant.
Visit Veglio and Elio Altare wineries, almost next door to each other near La Morra.
Farewell dinner in a great restaurant.

Sunday

Reluctant departure. Private transport to Turin.

Price in 2004 in this private tour for two people was 2060 Euros per person (about $3400 Cdn or $2780 U.S.) , NOT including first two nights' accommodation that they booked before finding Mama Margaret.

In December 2004 the Euro was about $1.65 Cdn and $1.35 U.S.