We don't have a catalogue of tours, we have a catalogue of ingredients. We start listening to you and we create your trip. This section is to get you inspired and this wine tour can be in a lot of regions of Italy.
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The Piedmontese approach to life centers around good living, wholesome food, and noble wines. Its location, nestled between the Alps and the Po River, has created several interesting microclimates where a unique and lively viticulture has flourished over generations. Explore the Piedmontâs rolling hills and valleys, covered by a tapestry of vineyards, fruit orchards, and hazelnut forests. Taste Barolo, the king of wines, heavy in tannins and rich in complex flavors. Sample its queen, the enchanting Barbaresco, more elegant with fewer tannins, that still allows you to experience the depth and flavor characteristic of Piedmontese reds. But there is so much more still! This tour is about more than just sampling these wines: you will discover the history of the Piedmont, and experience the cultural dedication to fresh foods, flavor, quality, and a slower but richer way of life.
It is the kingdom of Italy, home to the noble Savoy family, who filled the region with palaces, castles, and luxurious hunting lodges. It is the cradle of Italy's unification, sparked by conversations in Turin's grand bars in the 1860's. The people of Piedmont live a deeply conscious lifestyle in harmony with good living and wholesome food....and noble wines. Cycle the orchards, vineyards, and hazelnut forests. Bike Piedmont and see each day unfold with bliss and triumph.
Explore Turun, a city rich in culture and history. Enjoy a glass of wine at one of the many sidewalk cafes or visit a chic enoteca. Savor the flavors of Barolo in dishes ranging from meat courses to risotto and even desserts. Explore the rolling green hills of the Langhe Vineyards on foot. Compare different varietals at a unique tasting in Barolo. Wander through hazelnut orchards, home to high-quality nuts used in gianduia chocolates. There is so much you can enjoy in Piedmont.
Turin was the heart of the Savoy family's kingdom in Italy, and the majestic architecture of the historic center will transport you to another time. Nestled between the Alps and the Po River, Turin has historically been one of Europe's hubs and has attracted royal families with its rich natural resources. Upon your arrival, you will get situated in the hotel and then meet your guide during our Welcome meeting. In the afternoon, walk in the footsteps of kings during a guided walking tour of Turin. Stroll along the covered porticoes (that stretch for ten miles), built to ensure that the king could walk the whole city without ever getting wet from the rain. Along the way, we will stop at one of our favorite cafes for a chance to experience a coffee, pastry, or a bicerin (a chocolate coffee concoction created in Turin) in one of Turin's grand bars. Then, get ready for a sumptuous dinner together, where you can taste some of the first wines of the trip!
Lose yourself in the lives of Turin's royal family with a visit to Venaria Reale, built in the 17th century as a hunting lodge of the Savoy family. The grand facade of the palace, its rich baroque architecture, and immense gardens were designed to impress visitors with the power and prestige of the family. In the afternoon, we will head to Saluzzo and our enchanting hotel, formerly a monastery that was beautifully restored and reopened as a hotel in 2010. The town of Saluzzo is charming, with cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture. Grapes have been cultivated for wine here for centuries, and in the 1500s, the Marchessa of Saluzzo would send 30 bottles to Pope Giuolio II each year, who was known to enjoy good wine. Dinner tonight will be in a lovely local restaurant, and we recommend trying some local wines, so good they're fit for a pope!
We will leave Saluzzo this morning and head towards the town of La Morra, renowned for having the highest hills in the area and its status as one of the most beautiful small villages in Italy. On the way, we will stop in Pollenzo at the Banca del Vino (Bank of Wine). In 1835, King Carlo Alberto (Charles Albert of Savoy) requisitioned a royal estate to be built in Pollenzo with the intention of creating the Pollenzo Company, a model farm with vineyards and wine cellars for agricultural and wine-making experiments. In the 90s, the Italian Slow Food movement decided to renovate the estate and restart the Company. Today, the building houses the Università del Gusto (The University of Taste, a culinary school), the Banca del Vino, and the hotel of the Pollenzo Company. You will visit the wine bank, a wine cellar set up as a museum where over 100,000 wine bottles are stored, and enjoy a delicious wine tasting and lunch there. In the afternoon, you will have time to relax at our lovely hotel, or go for a walk about La Morra.
The rich countryside of Piedmont is carpeted with fruit orchards, including apple, pear, kiwi, and ramasin (a local plum variety). Today, you have two options to choose from based on your interests. The first option is a hike among the vineyards, where you can appreciate the beauty of nature as you walk through rolling green hills, with grapevines snaking along their trellises in neat rows that blanket the hillsides. The second option is a self-guided visit to the city of Alba. Here, you can admire the town's medieval architecture, explore Roman ruins, and soak in its charming atmosphere. Alba is renowned for its prized white truffles and its Barolo and Barbaresco wines. In the afternoon, we will meet together for a wine tasting in a cellar close to your hotel in La Morra. Then, it's time for dinner together at a special restaurant, so we hope you've worked up a good appetite!
Today is all about wine! In the morning, we will visit Verduno for a wine tasting. Verduno is famous for its Pelaverga wines, a very rare and unique red wine made from the Pelaverga Piccolo grape. It was a varietal that was almost extinct until it was revived by local winemakers. The area also makes good Barolos. And speaking of Barolo, after finishing our tasting in Verduno, we will make our way to Barolo. Barolo is considered by some to be the King of Wine, but you will be the judge of that! Barolo is made with Nebbiolo grapes, and this powerful variety produces several well-known wines including Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera. The red wines are known for fruity flavors laced with rose, clay, leather, and herbs. Although all these wines come from the same grape, the flavors differ based on the soil they are grown in (clay, sand, or a combination) and the sun exposure (south-facing or north-facing) they receive. You will have time to explore this quaint village. Lunch is on your own, but we would recommend trying a few classic dishes that show off the beautiful Barolo and its complex flavors. Savor a creamy risotto that uses Barolo for its intensity of flavor or a tender brasato (beef) baked in a sumptuous Barolo sauce. In the afternoon, we will transfer to our hotel in Monforte d'Alba, where you will have the opportunity to spend a relaxing evening.
The lovely Alta Langa region is renowned for its prized wines, but this morning, we'll shift our focus from grapes to a cherished nut: the hazelnut! Arriving in the town of Cortemilia, we will tour a hazelnut grove and learn about this important Piedmontese crop. Hazelnuts play a crucial role in the region's celebrated chocolate, most famously exemplified by Nutella. During the tour, you will learn all about their cultivation, their use in regional cuisine, and more. A delightful lunch is included, so get ready to experience hazelnuts in many forms. While you may already love desserts featuring hazelnuts, you might not have tried them in pasta or savory dishes, which really explore all the rich flavors and textures of the nut. In the afternoon, we'll return to our main theme-wine. We'll head to a wine tasting to savor the exquisite wines from the Langhe region.
On this final full day of the tour, we thought we would give you some free time in the morning. The hotel is perfect for relaxation: lounge by the pool and enjoy the stunning view of the town's hillside, stroll through the gardens, or wander into the centuries-old park that surrounds the villa. Alternatively, you can explore the picturesque village of Monforte itself. In the afternoon, we will reconvene for a wine lesson with our friend, Sommelier Simon. He will guide you on a sensory journey through the aromas, flavors, and scents of wine. Simon will share expert tips on how to approach a tasting and what you can learn about a wine from its producer and the region it comes from. Then, we will prepare for our final dinner together.
Enjoy one final breakfast together, then prepare for departure and end of services. Ciao for now!
Payment Options: credit card or wire transfer
Soul Italy carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations.
Our choices are guided by comfort and quality. We prefer family-owned and operated hotels because they offer a richer experience and allow us to support local entrepreneurs. Over time, we've developed relationships with many exceptional hotel operators. Here's a sample of hotels available for this tour:
Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.
Let's start creating your Piedmont tour!