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To hear Stefano Secchi rhapsodize about Piedmont is to be convinced that you’ve been missing out. Florence and Rome may be wonderful destinations, but as the chef-owner of New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurant Rezdôra knows, Piedmont is unquestionably one of Italy’s culinary crown jewels (if you adore rich wines, fine cheeses, and truffles, that is).
Surrounded by France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and Liguria to the south, Piedmont is in the foothills of the Alps. The region is home to Italy’s best wines—the vineyards of the Langhe and Roero were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and is a top destination for any discerning wine connoisseur. Its Nebbiolo grape is transformed into rich Barolos and Barbarescos enjoyed the world over, while the acidic and mineral-rich terroir also produces enviable Gavi and Arneis white wines.
The home to the Slow Food movement is also a fantastic place to enjoy the food of local artisans and impeccable local produce. Sample the white truffles of Alba, Alpine mountain cheeses, cured meats, hazelnuts—considered by many to be the best in the world—giandujotti chocolate, agnolotti or tajarin pasta, and hearty dishes like beef braised in Barolo. Together they provide the exquisite ingredients for an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
While the food and wine are distinguished, so too is the region’s ambience. Piedmont retains an elegant noble charm with historic castles and palaces that dot the landscape and streetscapes and is especially picturesque in the fall as the leaves turn.
The itinerary has been curated by Michelin-starred chef Stefano Secchi, who lived and worked in Piedmont and brings an extensive knowledge of the region as well as deep connections with the area’s chefs, winemakers, and producers. To learn more about his passion and enthusiasm for quality ingredients, watch him in action at his celebrated restaurant, Rezdôra, which was recently named one of the ten best Italian restaurants in the world.
Highlights
- Delve into the culinary richness of Piedmont with chef Stefano Secchi, who will introduce you to chefs and winemakers he knows personally.
- Sample the rich wines of Piedmont at world-class wineries such as Marchesi di Barolo.
- Experience Slow Food at its finest in the region where it was born: dining on exquisite local products from Castelmagno cheese to truffles to hazelnuts.
- Join a chocolate producer for a tour of the production process, followed by a tasting.
- Take a gentle stroll through the forest in search of truffles.
- Enjoy the arcaded city of Turin with its elegant historic cafés and fine cuisine.
Pricing and Details
Read on for the full getaway itinerary. In the meantime, some key information:
- Dates: November 4–11, 2023
- Deposit: $500 per traveler (required upon booking to secure a spot)
- Price: $7,450 (double occupancy); $8,300 (single occupancy)
- Hotel: Turin's 5-star Grand Hotel Sitea
- To book your trip: Visit here or call 1-877-298-9677
- Questions?: Reservations@academic-travel.com or 1-877-298-9677
- Terms and conditions
Itinerary
- Arrive at Turin airport and transfer to the city center.
- Check into the hotel, located in the historic center of Turin.
- Take a short walking tour along the arcaded streets, through the beautiful piazze and past the historic cafés and elegant boutiques.
- Welcome dinner at La Badessa. Enjoy a menu featuring typical Piedmontese seasonal dishes such as agnolotti, a meat-filled pasta.
- Included Meals: Dinner
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Breakfast
- Depart hotel by bus. Drive to Canale.
- At 18th-century farmhouse Villa Tiboldi, meet with members of the Damonte Family, owners of the estate and surrounding Malvirà winery. Take a walk among their vineyards to learn about the grapes and their transformation into Malvirà Roero wines.
- Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at Villa Tiboldi, followed by an afternoon at a Barbaresco winery.
- Dinner at All’Enoteca hosted by chef Davide Palluda, with whom Stefano worked for a year. On a recent visit he described Palluda’s reimagined vitello tonnato as “mind-blowing.”
- Return to Turin.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting, Dinner
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Drive out to Principato di Lucedio, a Cistercian abbey dating to the 12th century. Today it is run by the Salvadori family and is at the heart of Italian rice production. Meet with the Salvadori family for a guided tour of the estate to discover the different varieties of rice grown here.
- Enjoy a sumptuous lunch featuring an autumnal risotto.
- Return to Turin midafternoon.
- At 6 p.m. set off for an early evening stroll (or passeggiata). A local expert will guide you through the historical grand cafés with their turn-of-the-century decor (Baratti & Milano, Fiorio, Al Bicerin, San Carlo). Sit down for an aperitivo—perhaps a negroni or spritz accompanied by delicious canapes and nibbles—at San Carlo.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Aperitivo
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Depart hotel by bus for Bra.
- En route, visit cheese producer Tino Paiolo, head of a family-run farm that has been operating for over 100 years, focusing on animal welfare and the best natural ingredients. Taste some of their cheeses, including the king of Piedmontese cheeses, Castelmagno.
- In Bra, headquarters of the Slow Food movement, have lunch at Boccondivino, famous for its local sausage, 40-yolk tajarin, and typical Piedmontese bonnet dessert.
- Afternoon visit to Agricola Tarable. Visit the hazelnut fields, learn how the nuts are transformed into spreads, desserts, and pastries, and enjoy a tasting.
- Return to Turin for evening at leisure.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Breakfast
- Depart hotel; drive through the mountains to Roddino.
- At cozy family-run Osteria da Gemma, join nonna Gemma as she makes her sublime yolk-heavy pasta.
- After lunch, transfer to Barolo.
- At the world-renowned Marchesi di Barolo Estate, enjoy a tasting and take a guided visit of the vineyards and wander through the vast 19th-century cellars that were built to create the perfect aging environment for the wines and house over 30,000 bottles.
- Return to Turin for an evening at leisure.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Breakfast
- Depart hotel by bus for Alba.
- Enjoy a morning dedicated to truffle hunting. Stroll through the woods with several truffle-hunting dogs in search of the prized delicacy.
- In the small village of Castellinaldo sit down for a convivial lunch at Osteria delle Aie, where magnums of wine are shared among all the guests.
- Return to Turin in the afternoon and visit an award-winning chocolate factory to learn about the long tradition of chocolate-making in the region. During the workshop, witness the factory’s artisanal approach and taste some of their delicious giandujotti chocolate creations.
- Evening at leisure.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Wander the central market in Turin with its many botteghe and artisan food producers.
- Roll up your sleeves for a cooking class in the center of the market and make hearty winter bollito misto and bagna cauda.
- Enjoy time at leisure to visit one of Turin’s many cultural sites: the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace, the chapel that houses the Holy Shroud, the National Automobile Museum, or others.
- Evening transfer to Grinzane Cavour Castle; enjoy a farewell reception and dinner at Marc Lanteri restaurant inside the historic walls. Chef Lanteri infuses the traditional hearty Piedmontese flavors with French accents from his childhood home. His signature dishes include the traditional vitello tonnato and many truffle-inspired offerings.
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Included Hotel: Grand Hotel Sitea
- Depart after breakfast for transfers to Turin airport.
Included Meals: Breakfast
About Your Hotel
The Grand Hotel Sitea in Turin is a 5-star traditional boutique property in the heart of the city that offers great service and a fine restaurant. Guest rooms have a warm and traditional feel.
About Your Expert Guide
Stefano Secchi is the chef and partner of Michelin-starred Rezdôra, a rustic Italian restaurant highlighting the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna in New York City’s Flatiron neighborhood. He spent several years honing his skills in Modena at the famed Osteria Francescana under Massimo Bottura and perfecting the art of handmade pasta under the tutelage of Nonna Laura Morandi at Hosteria Giusti. During his time in Piedmont, he worked at All’Enoteca with Michelin-starred chef Davide Palluda. He looks forward to sharing his love of the region with Bon Appétit travelers.
Rates
- Double Occupancy: $7,450
- Single Occupancy: $8,300
- Deposit: $500 per traveler
Trip limited to 25 travelers.
Reserve your spot by calling 1-877-298-9677 or booking online. For more information, contact reservations@academic-travel.com. For terms and conditions, please see here.
