The Royal class of the Piedmont – Premium Gourmet Wine Travel to one of the world famous wine regions

On Monday after breakfast we will take the bus to Alba and visit the Truffle Market (Mercato del Tartufo). The Truffle Market in Alba is definitely the most famous one in the world. In the “Cortile della Maddalena” the truffle fair (Fiera del Tartufo di Alba) is held annually in October and November. Here the famous white and black truffles can be bought, and you can taste wines from the Langhe & Roero, various cheeses, homemade pesto, homemade pasta, salami, ham and many other specialties of the territory. Until afternoon you have free time to continue to linger on the market or to eat something and enjoy an aperitif in one of the numerous bistros.

Now we go to the wine estate Forteto della Luja. This winery is rather small with 9 ha of cultivated land and is a paradise in the Piedmont’s wine country. Forteto is, of course, a winery. But there is more. It is a “home”. It is a “huge garden”. And, it is also a “World Wildlife Federation oasis”. The wines are produced organically. But no matter how beautiful a spot is, it does not live, if there is no soul. And the soul of Forteto della Luja is the Scaglione family. On the estate, owned by the family since 1826, Giancarlo, Silvia and Gianni Scaglione work with passion and produce great wines. Silvia welcomes us already today and looks forward to our visit.

In this wonderful wine region, there are also very, very good golf courses, such as The Cherasco Golf Club (or others). If you prefer to play golf instead of visiting the truffle market in Alba and/or the Cascina Morassino estate you can organize a golfing day by your own. After golfing, all golfers are also looking forward to having a nice dinner.

Dinner is served in Il Cascinale Nuovo restaurant in Isola d’Asti. One MICHELIN star: a cuisine full of finesse – worth a stop! Products of selected quality, unmistakable finesse on the plate, to the point brought taste, a constantly high level in the preparation. Just right for our wine lovers and gourmets. Here we enjoy a 7-course dinner with wines from Piedmont. – http://www.walterferretto.com/

On Wednesday morning after breakfast we will check out and stay on this stately estate of the Winery Marchesi Alfieri, Viticoltori e Vinificatori dal 1696 in San Martino Alfieri, www.marchesialfieri.it – The winery, which was mentioned for the first time in the 14th century is dedicated to the Barbera grape. With body and soul. For twenty years now, the wines have reached an absolutely top class level. Meanwhile they are called in the same breath as Braida and Coppo. A guided tour through the estate and through the wine cellar as well as an exciting wine tasting and some small snacks await us.
After the tasting of the Wines of the Marchesi Alfieri Winery, we will return to Zurich in order to get there before 8.00 pm.

Travel by bus from Zurich to Grinzane Cavour and there in the castle Grinzane Cavour from the 13th century, we start with the Piedmont wine seminar, conducted by Consorzio “I vini del Piemonte / Strada del BARLO e grande vini di LANGA”- http://www.stradadelbarolo.it/ and http://www.ivinidelpiemonte.it/

Upon arrival in the castle San Martino Alfieri, we will check-in and get our rooms

http://www.marchesialfieri.it/ – After checking in we walk to the Ristorante Concordia. There, we will have a fine multi-course menu with house wines of the restaurant.

After a refreshing breakfast buffet, we take the bus to the Paolo Conterno winery to Monforte d’Alba. http://www.paoloconterno.com/ – The Paolo Conterno estate, with 15 hectares of cultivated land and the Grand Cru position “Ginestra”, is now under the direction of son Giorgio Conterno and is as a pearl of the Barolo producers. The wines have been matured since the beginning in the original wine cellar from 1886. Also this year again, the winery with its Barolo Ginestra Riserva 2008 Paolo Conterno has been awarded the highest award “3 Bicchieri” by Gambero Rosso. We are pleased to be a guest at Paolo Conterno and to taste his wines.

At noon, we will have a light lunch in an agritourism and then go to the winery Angelo Gaja. http://www.gaja.com/ Founded in 1859, Cantina Gaja in Barbaresco is run by Angelo Gaja in the fourth generation since 1961. Angelo Gaja is internationally known as the most famous Italian wine maker. He was repeatedly awarded the “Man of the Year” by “Decanter” and “Wine spectator”, and no winemaker won the “Tre Bicchieri” of Gambero Rosso as often as he did. Cantina Gaja gives only a few visiting spots per year for groups. As an individual, you have no chance to visit this famous winery which belongs to the TOP 20 wineries worldwide. Visiting this vineyard and having a guided tasting is an absolute highlight.

At the same time, we are supporting a CHARITY project in Piedmont with this visit. The Hospital “Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo” Alessandria in this region, has a children department for Child Orthopedics, Traumatology and Child Pediatrics. To ensure that the children do not have to undergo the long hospital stay in the “sterile adult rooms”, we will equip 1 – 2 rooms with children’s furniture. With this trip, you will support this very important project. All details on the website.

For dinner, we go to the Ristorante Antica Corona Reale in Cervere. 2 MICHELIN Stars Restaurant: a top cuisine – worth a detour! Outstanding products, by a talented kitchen chef and his team with a lot of know-how and inspiration in subtle, extraordinary and occasionally original creations excellently staged. In 1815, a family member of the Vivalda family took over the management of the restaurant, whose good reputation continues uninterruptedly for more than 200 years from generation to generation. Kitchen chef Gian Piero Vivalda, the heir of this tradition, is dedicated to the traditions of Piedmont. He uses the best regional products – game, vegetables and herbs from the kitchen garden – and reinterprets traditional recipes. We enjoy this 7-course menu of Piedmont wines.

On Wednesday morning after breakfast we will check out and stay on this stately estate of the Winery Marchesi Alfieri, Viticoltori e Vinificatori dal 1696 in San Martino Alfieri, www.marchesialfieri.it – The winery, which was mentioned for the first time in the 14th century is dedicated to the Barbera grape. With body and soul. For twenty years now, the wines have reached an absolutely top class level. Meanwhile they are called in the same breath as Braida and Coppo. A guided tour through the estate and through the wine cellar as well as an exciting wine tasting and some small snacks await us.
After the tasting of the Wines of the Marchesi Alfieri Winery, we will return to Zurich in order to get there before 8.00 pm.