A Week in Piedmont--Part 2
Day 5: We left for a guided tour of Grinzane Cavour Castle, and then we had an interesting tour of a locally owned Hazelnut Farm. We learned all about his method of roasting hazelnuts, and we also had an opportunity to taste many samples of their products. Following lunch at Taste Restaurant, a converted school house in the Barberesco grape area, we returned to our hotel. Dinner that evening was at Locanda Cannubie, another good restaurant in the region.
Day 6: We drove to the Gavi wine region, and along the way we stopped for a tour of a privately owned castle in the town of Ovada. After that tour, we drove to Villa Sparina, where we had a tour of that wine cellar, followed by lunch. And then it was on to the final destination of Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, where we stayed at the elegant Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees. Dinner that night was another a la carte menu in their elegant restaurant.
Day 7: We had time on our own that morning, and we used it to walk into town. At 2:30, we boarded a private boat to Isola Bella for a tour of Borromeo Palace. In late afternoon, we took the private boat to Isola de Pescatori, where we had our Farewell Dinner and reception.
In conclusion, we were blessed with perfect weather and a good group of travelers, as well as a seasoned guide of Italy, Scott. We didn't stay an extra day in Stresa, as we had been there before, and we were also heading to Matera, to start the Puglia tour.
Comments
We are thinking of tacking on another Italy tour to Puglia. How did you travel to Matera?
We used ITA from Stresa.
jteiii, thank you so very much for getting some much needed info on the forum about this trip. I have a few questions:
1) Did you feel that hiking boots were necessary for the truffle hunting? And how hilly is the terrain? (I am not a fan of steep and slippery).
2) Did you see much in the way of fall colors in the region in early October?
3) My husband does not drink wine. Were there any non-wine drinkers in your group and did they seem bored? (He does love beautiful scenery, photography and great food so I am hoping he won't be totally bored. )
4) Did you feel that dinners were "dressier" than on other Tauck trips in similar settings?
5) Did you happen to chat with any of the people who were staying an extra day in Stresa? Did they have specific plans?
Thank you!
jteiiiv - do you mean ITA from Milan to Bari?
Wan: I did fine with my "walking shoes" (sneakers) and so did my husband. There was an incline walking back, but everyone but one person was able to do it. We went basically the first week in October, and although it was gorgeous, the leaves, for the most part, hadn't turned. There were two people on the tour who didn't drink. I don't know how they felt about it, because no one wanted to question their non-drinking. In my opinion, because so much of the daily activities include wine and wineries, it would not be a favorite tour for non-drinkers. There are two dinners where people got dressed up--the two excellent dinners--but they were both in hotels. Up to you! The few people I talked to who were spending an extra day in Stresa were using the spa at the hotel.
Goddess--Yes, ITA, Milan to Bari.
Thank you for the review. Very informative.
I assume that there were substitute drinks for those who did not take part in the wine drinking? Of course many people are beginning to abstain from alcohol purely for health reasons and certainly doctors are advising it. It seems Tauck travelers are big drinkers which is why there are so many winery visits more and more, which is not why I take tours. I would be much happier seeing a lot more sites with a quick sandwich lunch instead of filling in time with a two hour lunch and the so common ‘free time’ which is not free, you’ve paid for it!
If a country is known for its wine, then there are winery tours and more wine at meals. You won't get that in Scandinavia!
😀Which is why I enjoyed Scandinavia this year, we saw a lot of the country.
jteiii - thanks!
British--Yes, of course, there were other liquids offered all throughout the trip!
Clarification - Scandinavia is a region, not a country. There are a few burgeoning wineries in Sweden, but I agree the focus on traveling to the region is on history, culture and the beautiful landscapes. Try the akvavit/aquavit, especially in Denmark.
I agree with Goddess that certain regions—Italy and France for example—are known for their superb wines. It is not so much the winery itself but the beautiful locations of these wineries that make them so appealing to me.
add Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina...........lots of Wine Countries/Regions out there.
And Portugal.