A four-night trip commencing in Torino, Italy's first capital city, followed by the world-class wines, food and breathtaking UNESCO world heritage scenery of Langhe-Roero-Monferrato.
The trip fee is €2645 per person based on two sharing. There is a €400 single-occupancy supplement. The price is all-inclusive except for flights and insurance.
This trip (all-inclusive except flights and insurance) is a deep dive into the world of the Langhe-Roero-Monferrato. Your guides are James MacNay, an Italian Wine Ambassador, Barolo/Barbaresco expert and Piemonte resident, with contributions from Cinzia Long, a professional cheese taster and legendary cook.
We meet in Torino, an elegant city of the Savoie dynasty, steeped in wine and food, and Italy’s first capital. Here Cinzia leads a gastronomic tour, before an aperitif and tasting of Vermouth, the city’s trademark drink. This is followed by dinner in a characteristic restaurant.
By way of a visit and tasting at a world-famous cheese affineur en route, our journey takes us to the rolling, vine-clad hills of the ‘Langhe’ – the area of Barolo and Barbaresco. We spend three nights in a beautiful working winery, visiting Barbaresco and Barolo winemakers, with the addition of a private Masterclass tasting of Monferrato wines, led by James.
Our final day assumes a late flight or an overnight extension back in Turin, and this gives us the opportunity to visit a Roero winemaker, whose wines we will taste in the vineyard (weather permitting) or tasting room, accompanied by a legendary Cinzia Long picnic and cheese tasting. The last day continues with a visit to a beauty spot high above Torino, before a final winery visit and tasting in the Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG.
This unique trip costs €2645 per person, based on two sharing. There is a single-occupancy supplement of €400.
This trip is for groups of 8-16 people. For fewer or more guests, contact us to organise a quote through our bespoke Italy Su Misura programme.
This trip is all-inclusive apart from flights, insurance and your arrival transfer to Torino centre.
This means all other transfers as described; an experienced and professional guide; four nights of 4-star and winery b&b accommodation; typical, high quality meals with wine; six winery visits and tastings; two ‘extra-curricular’ visits; and a Cinzia Long legendary picnic with tutored cheese tasting.
We stay in two excellent accommodations – one in the centre of Torino, and the second a working winery in the Barbaresco hills.
Nowhere in Italy is as proud and committed to the regionality and tradition of its cuisine as Piemonte. Add to this the country’s largest concentration of DOC and DOCG wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco. This trip is a heaven for lovers of food and wine.
A late return flight or Torino extension allows us a bonus visit to Caluso, to taste rare (white) Erbaluce.
Cinzia chooses all of the menus, to paint the full picture of the finest typical regional cuisine.
In addition, she prepares one of her legendary picnics and tutored cheese tastings, which we enjoy in the vineyard, in the company of a winemaker and their wines.
We happily accommodate dietary requirements, but please do indicate your requests on the form when we send it.
We visit and/or have the chance to taste the following DOCG appellations: Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Roero Arneis, Carema, Caluso, Dogliani, Moscato d’Asti, Ruchè da Castagnole Monferrato, Nizza, Alta Langa; and the following DOC’s: Verduno Pelaverga, Langhe Nas-Cëtta, Colli Tortonesi, Monferrato, Piemonte, Langhe, Asti; and the following grapes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Arneis, Pelaverga, Nas-Cëtta, Ruchè, Grignolino, Moscato, Timorasso, Erbaluce, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.
The Alps and Langhe-Roero-Monferrato hills are especially beautiful in Spring and Autumn/Fall.
While temperatures are usually warm, they can be on the cooler side. Inclement weather can occur, so bring warmer clothes and waterproofs.
The summer months are uncomfortably hot, with views restricted by heat haze, so we do not recommend visiting at this time.
We meet in Torino city centre on the afternoon of the first day, with an evening drop-off at Torino airport at the end of the trip. From here there is easy access back into Torino for extension nights or onward rail travel to other Italian cities.
BA fly several times a week between Torino and Gatwick.
Easyjet fly daily from London Gatwick to Milano Malpensa. There’s a regular coach transfer from Milano Malpensa to Torino Porta Nuova, which is convenient for your hotel. Otherwise you can take the train via Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi.
There are regular TGV services between Paris and Turin.
If you would like to stay extra nights to explore more of Turin, just let us know.
All the wines we taste are available to order in the UK at preferential rates through MacNay Travel & Wine.
Price lists and order forms are included with your tasting sheets.
To book, or if you have any questions, email james@travelandwine.co.uk.
MTW require a 20% non-refundable deposit payment to confirm your place.
Payment of the balance is due sixty days before the trip commences, and this can be made in one or two instalments.
Meet at our 4-star hotel in Torino city centre.
Cinzia leads her famous ‘Taste Torino’ gastronomic tour, visiting famous foody locations and sampling delights including Bicerin, the city’s historic coffee and chocolate drink.
In the evening we visit a famous Vermouth bar, where Cinzia and James lead an ‘aperi-tasting’ of this classic Torinese drink, in all of its shades.
Dinner is in a Piola, a characterful eatery beloved of the machinists and factory workers of the city’s nineteenth- and twentieth-century industrial heyday.
After a fine buffet breakfast we check out and hit the road.
Our first destination is our accommodation, a beautiful working winery nestled in the Barbaresco hills.
We check in and then meet in the winery courtyard for our first winery visit and tasting. Our hosts guide us through their winery and maturation cellars, before an extensive guided tasting of their wines. These include at least three versions of Barbaresco DOCG, of which two are from named vineyards, or MGA’s, as they are known here. A light lunch accompanies the tasting.
In the afternoon, relax and enjoy the b&b and the iconic vineyard scenery. James can lead a 5km-7km circular walk for anybody interested.
Dinner is in a famous, traditional Trattoria a short drive or walk from our b&b.
After breakfast we transfer to a beauty spot in the Monferrato hills, where James provides an extensive Masterclass tasting of Monferrato wines, followed by a light lunch in a local town.
There is time to relax and freshen up in the b&b, before we take the short drive to the handsome city of Alba. Here we can wander the streets and stop in to a bar, caffé or one of the myriad elegant stores for some shopping.
Our evening meal is in one of our favourite Osterie in the city.
A short drive takes us to a viewing platform high above the Barolo growing area. Here James gives an introduction to this famous appellation, describing the history and pointing out the eleven Barolo villages and some legendary MGA’s (vineyard sites).
A coffee stop is followed by another short drive into Barolo town itself, where we tour an important winery. Our comprehensive tasting explores the influence of site and vintage on wines, and we will have the chance to try some prestige cuvées and vintages.
Lunch is in a pretty Bistrot in the town centre and there is time to explore the town, including the museum in the castle (optional; pay locally).
We return to our b&b, where we can rest and freshen up, before heading to another of the Barolo villages, where an elegant dinner in an iconic restaurant awaits us.
Check out and bid farewell to our hosts.
Our first stop is a Roero winery. The sandy soils on the left bank of the Tanaro deliver fine Arneis and a different expression of Nebbiolo to that of Barbaresco and Barolo.
We enjoy a tasting with our winemaker in his vineyard, along with a legendary Cinzia Long picnic and cheese tasting.
If time permits, we can detour to visit a beauty spot high above the city of Torino. On a clear day the city is resplendent with its alpine backdrop. You might be able to catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn/Cervino.
Either way, our final stop is in the town of Caluso, where the fine and characterful white Erbaluce grape makes Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG wines in still, sparkling, dry and sweet versions. Our winery provides a tasting of this grape in all its fascinating shades.
From here there remains only to head to the airport, and we will be sure to drop you in plenty of time to make the evening flight home or to catch the train back to the city centre.
