 Slow Food Festa
The Salone del Gusto in Turin Now an international movement, Slow Food celebrates local food traditions, biodiversity, and
sustainability. Founded in 1989 in Piedmont, Slow Food organizes the Salone del Gusto, a huge, biannual exhibition & market
in Turin that features artisan food from all over Italy and the world. Slow Food Festa is a new 6-day epicurean tour
that combines two days at the Salone del Gusto with four days in the Langhe, Piedmont's capital of red wine and white
truffles. With truffle season in full swing and lots of Barolo wine in the mix, this tour is a foodie's idea of heaven!
2008 dates: [6 days/5 nights] Cost: $2,795. Single supplement $350
Foodies flock to the mountainous region of Piedmont called the Langhe, home to fabulous wine, truffles--and mountain cheeses. Our welcome lunch takes us to an artisan cheese farm, where we'll enjoy a buffet featuring fresh, homemade cheese and salumi high in the Alte Langhe, complemented by some fruity Dolcetto di Dogliani wine. After lunch, we'll visit the town of Barolo for a stroll to the castle and a lesson in the 19th century origins of Barolo. Next is our first private, in-depth tasting of Barolo, dubbed "the king of wines and wine of kings," at a top-notch estate, such as Silvio Grasso, Marcharini, or Renata Ratti. Dinner is in the elegant medieval town of Alba, our home base in the Langhe. | ||||
 Day 2 - White truffles, good as gold In October, truffle hunters, gourmands, and restaurateurs convene in Alba for the annual truffle market. This morning we'll have free time to scour the gourmet shops for truffle spreads, truffle oil, truffle books, and whole tubers, sold alongside such piemontese specialties like risotto, dried porcini, hazelnuts, and chocolate. In the afternoon it's off to the town of Barbaresco, where we'll explore Piedmont's other regal red wine. We'll visit the Marchesi di Gresy, an esteemed, historic estate with a modernist approach that creates excellent single-vineyard examples of Barbaresco. Dinner is in Alba at a Slow Foods restaurant, where we'll hunt for truffles on the menu. | ||||
Meet a real truffle hunter and his dog, who will provide an in-field demonstration of dog training and truffle hunting among the hazelnut groves and explain why truffles are so rare, expensive, and good! The afternoon takes us back to the heart of Barolo wine country, where we'll have another chance to learn about cru, terroir , barrique, and other wine-making concepts currently in vogue as we enjoy another Barolo wine tasting. This time, we'll head over to the communes of Monforte and Serralunga to try the more structured, "masculine" versions of Barolo, visiting Massolino and Fantino Conterno. Then it's back to Alba for a sumptuous dinner. 
Day 4 - Slow Food's Salone del Gusto This morning we'll transfer hotels to Turin, the regional capital of Piedmont, where the Slow Food Salone del Gusto takes place every other year. Here we'll browse the hundreds of booths, tasting samples of cheeses, cured meats, honeys, and chocolates while we talk to the artisan food craftsman gathered here from around the world. We'll investigate the Slow Food Convivium projects, which seek to preserve disappearing species (American heritage turkey, anyone?). The fair also offers interesting food and wine seminars, plus an enoteca where we'll gather for a tasting of wines from elsewhere in Italy. Dinner on your own in Turin.
For several centuries, the kings of Piedmont lived in Turin. The royals left behind a legacy of opulent architecture fit for kings, which gives this city its elegant flair. Today guests can choose between returning to the Salone del Gusto for more epicurean fun, or exploring the city of Turin. We'll dip into the elegant 18th century cafes that offer the world's best hot chocolate, then visit the Museum of Cinema for a spectacular view of the city from its spire. And of course royal palaces beckon. We'll reconvene at day's end for a farewell dinner at one of Turin's fine restaurants. Day 6 - Arrivederci Goodbye, and assistance with your travel plans. | ||||
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