Oil and wine in the Appenines
Discover the wines and gastronomy of Romagna, Marche and Umbria in this five night, accompanied wine tour.
Discover the wines and gastronomy of Romagna, Marche and Umbria in this five night, accompanied wine tour.
James MacNay, IWA and Cinzia Long invite you on a journey of discovery, exploring the wines, winemakers and gastronomy of Romagna, Marche and Umbria. From the Adriatic to Italy’s central mountains, we are a long way from the beaten track of the Tuscan wine trail.
As well as some of Italy’s most distinctive wines – including Verdicchio, one of the great whites – these regions boast extraordinary natural beauty, a wealth of history and fabulous cuisine.
Prices start at €1995 per person, based on two sharing. There is a €300 single occupancy supplement. The final trip fee is dependent on collection and drop-off locations, the number of guests, and eventual variations to the itinerary described.
The following itinerary takes Ancona and Perugia as the start and finish points. However, the itinerary also works with Rome, Florence, Pisa and Bologna, all of which have international airports and rail connections. Although we don’t handle flights, we can provide plenty of advice for the logistics and adjust the trip to suit you.
Book this trip for a minimum six and maximum sixteen guests.
The Piano Grande is at its best in May and June. However, the trip is a delight any time from March to November.
We taste Romagna DOC, Rimini DOC, Cònero DOCG, Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC, Piceno DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOCG, Verdicchio di Matelica DOC and Riserva DOCG, Montefalco DOC, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG and Riserva DOCG and more…
We will be pleased to add extensions to suit your schedule and preferences.
Meet at our Ancona hotel and depart for our first wine tasting at the San Valentino estate. The appellations here are Romagna DOC and Rimini DOC.
Roberto Mascarin (pictured with his sales and hospitality manager, Laura) owns the winery and makes a combination of traditional and innovative wines, using Sangiovese Grosso, Bombino Bianco and Grechetto Gentile (also known locally as Pignoletto or Rebola).
After a winery tour, tasting and light lunch, we transfer to our first hotel, a delightful agriturismo on a working olive farm. We’ll enjoy an olive oil tasting, an aperitif on the terrace, use of the pool and dinner prepared by our hosts.
The agriturismo has a spa, which can be booked in advance for an additional fee.
Breakfast to rolling hills, the classic Marchigiano vista. We are within the Castello di Jesi growing area, where Verdicchio, one of Italy’s most prestigious and ageworthy white grapes, reigns.
The day’s action commences at a local winery, where we taste Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG Classico Superiore.
Winemakers are proud of the ageing qualities of their Verdicchio, and can usually be relied on to bring out some old vintages. Reds include Cònero DOCG and Piceno DOC (both Montepulciano-based, with some Sangiovese), and Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC. Lacrima is the name of the grape.
Visit the city of Jesi, birthplace of Federico II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, for a light lunch and a guided tour.
Dinner at a famous Taverna in a pretty local town.
The mountains call. We check out of our first hotel and strike inland. Our first destination of the day is the La Monacesca winery, in the Verdicchio di Matelica DOC (and Riserva DOCG). This producer – in particular their Mirum label – is the benchmark for top quality Verdicchio di Matelica.
Matelica is the only Marchigiano valley which runs north-south, parallel to the Adriatic. To the east the range of pre-Appenines cuts off all maritime influence, while to the west the Appenines themselves deliver significant day/night temperature variations. As a result the Verdicchio wines of Matelica are more structured and less rich than their Jesi counterparts.
After the tasting we cross into Umbria and Italy’s spiritual heart, the Piano Grande. Walkers have the chance to hike the length of this high plain within its mountain cauldron, enjoying the wild flowers and mountainous scenery. Non-walkers can do the same, from the comfort of the vehicle!
Our final destination is the magnificent Abbazia di San Pietro in Valle, where we can check in and relax before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Take a ride into Spoleto, one of Umbria’s finest cities. Walkers can properly stretch their legs with the 15km hike from the abbey to the city, which takes in a significant climb. There is also a more gentle 5km loop starting and finishing in Spoleto.
This is a historic trail through very pretty woodland, with fine views of the city on the way.
We depart in the direction of delightful Montefalco, where we reunite with our friend Federico II. For it was he who, demonstrating his love of falconry, gave the town its name.
We will taste (white) Trebbiano di Spoleto and the legendary, full-bodied, highly structured reds made from the Sagrantino grape.
Our final destination is the delightful city of Perugia, where our central, four-star hotel provides the perfect base to explore the city and enjoy a last meal in one of the city’s best restaurants.
For those flying onwards, we provide an airport run by arrangement the following morning.
