New Exclusive Italy Wine Tour Features The Best Italian Wines

Kathy Merchant | Wednesday, Jun 21st 2017
Italy wine tour

New Italy Wine Tour featuring Tuscany and Piedmont

Welcome to a spectacular new Italy wine tour curated by French Wine Explorers: Treasures of Tuscany and Piedmont. Award-winning French Wine Explorers is best known for prestigious tours to the major French wine regions. For several years, they have offered private and custom Italy wine tours for their clients.  Their newest group tour features the crown jewels of Italian wine country for an intimate group of up to 13 people.

Six luxurious nights in charming, historic hotels anchor the Italy wine tour. In Tuscany, accommodations are at the boutique 4-star Hotel Palazzo San Lorenzo. It sits in the historic center of Colle Val d’Elsa near San Gimignano and Siena. The Relais and Chateau Member Hotel Villa d’Amelia is near Barolo, Barbaresco, and Asti. Both hotels offer spa and wellness services.
 
The first treasure of the new Italy wine tour is a welcome wine dinner at 2-star Michelin restaurant Arnolfo. Brothers Gaitano and Giovanni Trovato, are chef/owner and sommelier respectively. They expertly showcase the region’s food and wine in an elegant–yet comfortable–setting.
 
Guests explore top Tuscan wines for two full days. Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are both made from Sangiovese. Each wine articulates its unique region within Tuscany. Guests visit two wineries in each region and can purchase wines from the estates to be shipped home. Traditional Tuscan lunches are included at a trattoria and a winery.
 
The iconic Super Tuscan winery Ornellaia headlines the transition from Tuscany to Piedmont. Hot Mediterranean sun and cool breezes define the wines of the Bolgheri region. A Super Tuscan wine combines international grapes in the Bordeaux style. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc comprise most of the blend. A special wine tasting lunch awaits us at the spectacular Ornellaia winery. Then the majestic Swiss Alps and Southern Appenine mountains announce our arrival in Piedmont. Enjoy a relaxing evening with aperitifs and light antipasti at Villa d’Amelia.
 
Barolo and Barbaresco dominate the market and global image of the Piedmont region. The Nebbiolo grape offers a unique expression of place (or terroir) in each town. Taste wines from some of the finest estates as well as Barbera d’Alba, Moscato d’Asti, and Barolo Chinato.
 
The first day in Piedmont features Barbaresco, the “queen” of Nebbiolo. Barbaresco is more elegant, with greater finesse, than muscular Barolo. After the first exclusive winery visit, experience the regional specialty pasta called tarajin. The dish is an egg-rich version of the more familiar tagliatelle. It is prepared with truffles, butter, and grated Parmigiano cheese. It’s truly a pinnacle food experience! Shopping in Alba, followed by cooking class and dinner at a winery in La Morra, will cap a fantastic day in Piedmont!
 
The last full day of wine exploration showcases Barolo, the “king” of Nebbiolo. Powerful tannins make it necessary for Barolo to be long-aged. Enjoy Barolo tastings at two wineries as VIP guests. Lunch is at a quaint restaurant in the heart of Barolo featuring traditional regional favorites.
 
The gala farewell dinner for the tour is Enrico Crippa’s 3-star Michelin restaurant Piazza Duomo in Alba. The chef has a unique take on fresh, local ingredients.

Ciao Ciao (until next time)!

For more details on this exclusive Italy wine tour experience, contact French Wine Explorers at [email protected].

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