The region of Piedmont, Italy is replete with recipes of fall.
The scent of rich sauces and hardy stews lingers in the air, and are meals around the table are best enjoyed with a glass of the fine local wine.
But the real prima donna of the regional cuisine is the delicate and delicious white truffle, and she deserve your undivided attention.
Join us for personalized tour that honors this delicious diva.
October 2-9, 2008 - Cost: $3,900.00
per person exclusive of airfare and airport transfer
•
7 Nights Private Ensuite Lodging
•
All Meals & Unlimited Wine
•
Strade Del Vino Tour & Exclusive Tastings
•
Truffle Markets
•
Private Guided Truffle Hunt
•
Ultimate Truffle Feasts
•
Vintner Dinner at Castle
•
Hands On Cooking with Truffles
•
Chef Visits & Lunches in Legendary Trattorias
•
Includes Partial Transportation
TRAVEL ICONS
Culinary Gold
France is world-famous for its black truffles, but the white truffles of Alba may give them a run for the money. The Piemonte area is known throughout the world, and throughout the gourmet world, for its truffles. The truffle season officially starts mid September and usually extends to the third week of November. During these months, the region goes truffle
crazy and so will you.
Join us for personalized tour that honors this culinary gold---truffles. You'll be treated to a personalized hunt with and local experts and specially trained dogs. Of course, we’ll create (and eat) the fruits of your labor when we whip up a mouth watering truffle feast. Exclusive cooking lessons and trips to the truffle markets will spice up this mouth watering week and learning to use truffles in recipes will be a wonderful souvenir to take home. For food lovers, this is ultimate culinary bliss you can't dare to miss.
The Magic of Piemonte
Piemonte is located in
the north-west of Italy,
bordering France. Much of the region is mountainous, covered in
ice and snow, reaching up to the heights of Monte Rosa (4,633m).
But the region is one of contrasts - from rich rolling vineyards
to the mountain wonderland of the Gran Paradiso National Park.
Piemonte’s gourmet delights are also world-class including the famous wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti Spumante and Vermouth), the truffles from the Alba, and did you know that 160 different cheeses are found in the Piemonte region? Piemonte is also home to some of Italy's best restaurants and a delicious range of biscuits and chocolates. One thing is certain...you will not go hungry this week!
Back at the villa you learn to cook with truffles, treated to tastings, invited to intimate truffle dinners and wine tastings. Best of all you'll be hunting the truffles yourself with our best truffle dog and his proud owner.
The King of Wines
Tasting the delicate truffles with a fine regional wine is a must. Piemonte resident Angelo Gaja is known for producing elegant, opulent wines that are true to their origins. He is a pioneer in the production of single-vineyard wines in Piedmont. The quality of his wines is such that they have been described by Wine Spectator, a leading consumer wine publication, as "perhaps the finest Italian wines ever made."
Grapevines may crisscross the whole Italian peninsula, but many Italians-even proud natives of other wine-producing regions-consider Piedmontese wines to be among the country's best. The main grape grown here is the distinguished Nebbiolo, which is the base for the famed Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara among others. Its name derives from the word nebbia, or fog, because of a velvety, whitish coating over its berries in addition to the fact that it grows in an area where, at ripening time in September, heavy morning fog is a given, and the humidity that it provides gives the grapes an ideal habitat, and gives us, ultimately, a sublime wine!
While Tuscany and Chianti are often associated with Italian Wine, the region of Piemonte should not be ignored. Most of the wine produced here is of exceptional quality.
La dolce vita.
Loosen your belt buckles because eating in Italy means enjoying the complete meal...and the Piemontese adore their complete meal! The table is graced by infinite antipasti, the best beef in Italy, eaten raw, fine cheeses, anchovies, pickled fish, and “crostini" and autumn vegetables with Bagna
côda garlic dip. After agnolotti or polenta with rich truffle sauce we move to meat courses. The region is a meat eater’s delight with beef, lamb, hare, venison, pheasant, partridge, chicken, duck, and river fish plentiful.
Piemonte is also a land of chocolate and nuts, home to the famous Gianduia and Nutella, wonderful Amaretti cookies, and desserts with funny names like the Brutti ma buoni, "ugly but good" crunchy delights, and the irresistible Baci di dama, "Ladies kisses" scrumptious treats.
Since we honor the truffle this week, learning to cook with them (and eat them) is the highlight of this Vagabond
Gourmet adventure. The Villa's well equipped kitchen is ideal for us to fill homemade pastas and learn to prepare rich truffle sauces for roasted meats and game. All a perfect companion the remarkable wines. Soon you'll be cooking for friends Piemonte-style around your own table!
Sweet Dreams
In the heart of the Monferrato hills, surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking scenery, we welcome you our villa for the week. For hundreds of years, some of the most important wines of Piemonte were produced here. This 17th century palazzo has now been transformed into a luxurious and elegant country estate far removed from the pressures of everyday life.
The villa is within walking distance of one of the most prolific regions for truffles in the area. You will join our local expert who has been pulling truffles from the ground for at least 3 decades. He and his very accomplished dog, Rocky, will 'sniff out' the most likely places to find our own 'white gold' that we will use to prepare a succulent feast.
After a day on the wine road or hunting truffles, the romantic suites and rooms are designed with your comfort in mind, while maintaining the original features and character of the house. Everywhere are traces of the past - the old doors, vaulted ceilings, original floors, and ironwork. Beautiful linens, antique furniture, peaceful colors, natural materials - brought together to create a very classical yet modern style that is a soothing retreat. Throughout the estate, every detail has been chosen with great care. We hope you'll make yourself at home and stay a while.
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France is world-famous for its black truffles, but the white truffles of Alba may give them a run for the money. The Piemonte area is known throughout the world, and throughout the gourmet world, for its truffles. The truffle season officially starts mid September and usually extends to the third week of November. During these months, the region goes truffle
crazy and so will you. 
Piemonte is located in
the north-west of Italy,
bordering France. Much of the region is mountainous, covered in
ice and snow, reaching up to the heights of Monte Rosa (4,633m).
But the region is one of contrasts - from rich rolling vineyards
to the mountain wonderland of the Gran Paradiso National Park.
Piemonte’s gourmet delights are also world-class including the famous wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti Spumante and Vermouth), the truffles from the Alba, and did you know that 160 different cheeses are found in the Piemonte region? Piemonte is also home to some of Italy's best restaurants and a delicious range of biscuits and chocolates. One thing is certain...you will not go hungry this week! 
Tasting the delicate truffles with a fine regional wine is a must. Piemonte resident Angelo Gaja is known for producing elegant, opulent wines that are true to their origins. He is a pioneer in the production of single-vineyard wines in Piedmont. The quality of his wines is such that they have been described by Wine Spectator, a leading consumer wine publication, as "perhaps the finest Italian wines ever made." 
Loosen your belt buckles because eating in Italy means enjoying the complete meal...and the Piemontese adore their complete meal! The table is graced by infinite antipasti, the best beef in Italy, eaten raw, fine cheeses, anchovies, pickled fish, and “crostini" and autumn vegetables with Bagna
côda garlic dip. After agnolotti or polenta with rich truffle sauce we move to meat courses. The region is a meat eater’s delight with beef, lamb, hare, venison, pheasant, partridge, chicken, duck, and river fish plentiful. 
The villa is within walking distance of one of the most prolific regions for truffles in the area. You will join our local expert who has been pulling truffles from the ground for at least 3 decades. He and his very accomplished dog, Rocky, will 'sniff out' the most likely places to find our own 'white gold' that we will use to prepare a succulent feast. 
After a day on the wine road or hunting truffles, the romantic suites and rooms are designed with your comfort in mind, while maintaining the original features and character of the house. Everywhere are traces of the past - the old doors, vaulted ceilings, original floors, and ironwork. Beautiful linens, antique furniture, peaceful colors, natural materials - brought together to create a very classical yet modern style that is a soothing retreat. Throughout the estate, every detail has been chosen with great care. We hope you'll make yourself at home and stay a while.