So much of the heritage of Sonoma County is inspired by Italy. Many of the original grape growers in the region were of Italian heritage—the terrain, weather and the scenic beauty reminded them of the old country.
I could see the similarities when I was in Tuscany and Umbria last fall on my way to the Slow Food Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto conference. Yet there was something more, some deeper attraction to Italy for me. Maybe because the food culture reaches back so much further than ours. The producers have been making their cheese, olive oil, wine, bread the same way for hundreds of years with methods passed from generation to generation. The historic richness of Italy is something that needs to be experienced.
I'm going back to Italy and I'd love for you to join me! I've partnered with Linda Kirsch, a dear friend who's been leading textile tours to Italy through her business Let's Go Italy for many years. Together we're offering a unique culinary adventure to the wonderful region of Umbria!
Dates: October 23 - 29, 2014
$4,000 per person, includes lodging with daily breakfast, transportation within Italy, tours, tastes, most lunches and dinners (as specified) with two glasses of wine, and entrance fees for Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto.
Minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 guests. Partipants must provide their own transportation to and from Torino. See Tour Policies for more detailed information about payment and cancellation policies.
Itinerary
Wednesday, October 22 - Arrival in Torino
Arrival in Torino. Welcome dinner at a specially selected restaurant.
Thursday, Oct. 23 – Introduction to Beautiful Torino
We'll leave together from the hotel and enjoy a guided panoramic walking tour of the city center. The tour will start with the Porta Palazzo open food market, one of the biggest in Europe with over 5.000 workers filling the square every morning. It will continue with the Duomo, where the Holy Shroud of Torino is treasured and the nearby tiny Roman area. Then it will proceed to the courtly baroque squares Piazza Castello, San Carlo and Carignano and their palaces built during the Savoy rule of the city. We'll conclude the day with visits to the Mole Antonelliana, one of the symbols of Torino, and Piazza Vittorio overlooking the Po river and the gorgeous hillside area of the city.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 24, 25 & 26 – Terra Madre & Salone del Gusto
We will provide transportation to and from the Lingotto, location of Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto. You are free to have lunch on your own each day—there are many choices within the event and additional places nearby that we can recommend. One Terra Madre grand dinner event will be included with the tour.
More information about Terra Madre & Salone del Gusto will be available when the conference registration officially opens in June.
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, Oct 27, 28 & 29 – Alba, Barbaresco & return to Torino
We'll head to the Langhe region for a two-night stay with visits to world-renowned wine makers and cheese producers. We'll stay in the village of Barbaresco at Agriturismo Rivella, owned by Guido Rivella, recognized Italian wine expert and producer. Lunches and dinners during the touring are included in the tour.
On Wednesday, we'll visit the historical center of Alba, including a visit to the annual Truffle Fair. We'll lunch at the University of Gastronomic Science (UNISG) at Pollenzo then visit the university's Wine Library.
We'll end the our week of adventures at a hotel back in Torino where you can continue your travels as you like.
