As a sommelier, I love planning trips to wine country, and Italy is one of my favorite countries for wine trips because it offers so many options. While most people I speak with about wine trips already have a wine region in mind, I feel my job as a travel advisor is to help expand their horizons and offer perspectives on areas of Italy they may not have considered. Depending on your wine and culinary tastes, I can offer a wine adventure that fits your exact needs. No matter where you go in Italy, there's always wine!
The two most popular regions for wine tourism are Tuscany and Piedmont, which are well known for the both the quality of their wines and their beauty. Most American tourists fit in Tuscany while visiting Florence, but not many make their way to my very favorite region of Italy, Piedmont.
This is one of our favorites and home to the amazing wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. They also make wonderful everyday wines of Barbera and Dolcetto. In addition to producing great wine, the region is home to some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes. The vineyard landscape of this region is so stunning that the landscape was granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2014. And don't get me started on the culinary scene. The region is home to 15 Michelin starred restaurants and numerous wonderful casual dining spots.
An wine trip to Piedmont should include visits to wineries in Barolo and Barbaresco. If you like white wines, you'll also want to visit Gavi and Arneis to sample the whites of the region. When we plan our group trips to the area, we work with a local sommelier wine guide who knows the producers personally and introduces us to the best wineries.
With all the wine you'll drink, you'll want to sample the dishes of the region - truffles (when they are in season), veal tartare, vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce), tajarin pasta, and ravioli al plin are some of the regional specialties. We typically include a cooking class with a local chef, a truffle hunting demonstration, and visits to local producers of cheese and pasta. Piedmont is the home of the slow food movement and everyone there is passionate about fresh, local ingredients.
The perfect wine trips include a glimpse into local culture as well. In our 2016 trip, we had the chance to go to the Palio di Asti, a horse race that has been run in the town since the 13th century.
Choosing accommodations can be a challenge, as many of the best book early and and are small, boutique hotels. We have our favorites, and you should consider if your group prefers a small town atmosphere or a bigger city environment as base for your tour of Piedmont. Our tours typically include all transportation, so we tend to put our clients in charming countryside properties rather than bigger city hotels. But if you're there on your own, you may consider using the towns of Alba, Asti or even the city of Turin as a base for your exploring.
We are taking another group to Piedmont in October of 2017. To learn more,click here.