La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Piedmont & Cinque Terre Trails

A wine & hiking tour, from the Langhe Hills to the Italian Riviera

Slide Show:

Day 1: Setting off on a walk from La Morra, our home base in Barolo country
Trail signage on the Barolo Wine Trail shows a wine glass. How appropriate!
After the hike, we head to Barolo town for a tasting.
Yes, we sampled every single one—and more!—at Borgogno.
Blissed out (on the view, of course) from Borgogno’s rooftop.
One lucky day we arrived during La Morra’s annual wine fest and sampled from 61 tables of Barolo.
Hamming it up with the Marchesi di Barolo, where we have dinner in their private dining room
Day 2 takes us on another section of the Barolo Wine Trail
A ciabot on the hillcrest presides over vineyards and hazelnut groves
Kicking up the dirt in Barolo cru, like Brunate and Cerequio
Tour leader Claudio Bisio gives an impromptu lesson in trellising
At last! Our post-hike tasting at Oddero introduces Piedmont’s star grapes
Are there enough bottles on this table?
Day 3 features a hike in cheese country in the Alte Langhe
Here pastures, hazelnuts, and woods dominate
We have a chance encounter with the owner of one hazelnut grove, who poses with his favorite tree.
He pulls samples out of his truck: plain, salted, glazed, and chocolate-coated. Che fortuna!
Tapping the village fountain for a necessary water refill (after all those hazelnuts).
Lunch is at a cheese farm in Murrazzano, where Enrica the cheesemaker is our host.
Her mamma makes the salumi.
Honey and cogna, a delicious grape spread, accompany the cheese. And Dolcetto wine, of course!
Local breeds of cow, sheep, and goat supply milk for the DOP cheese
After lunch, we return to Barolo for our afternoon tasting at the family-run Vajra estate.
Getting those label shots—the best memory aid!
The mamma, Milena Vaira, pours a splendid line-up.
Mmm, mmm, good!
On Day 4 en route to Liguria, we stop in the white-wine town of Gavi
Here the massive Fortress of Gavi has guarded the “salt roads” since medieval times.
Thirsty from the climb to the fort, our group is ready for lunch!
Eating like the locals do: Ravioli with wine in a bowl
Gavi’s other claim to fame: soft amaretti cookies. To die for!
Gavi di Gavi wine is featured this afternoon at our visit to Fontanassa & Il Poggio
Il Poggio winemaker Francesca Poggio tries to imitate the petulant look in her photo with grandpa.
By evening, we’ve arrived in the Riviera. Ahh!
Day 5 features a hike in the Cinque Terre national park.
Water, water, everywhere.
Claudio Bisio leads the climb out of Vernazza
Precipitous vineyards encountered en route.
The pastel palette of the Cinque Terre
How high we’ve climbed! The view back towards Vernazza
Vernazza’s watchtower and the rocky sea cliffs
Ancient stone steps on the Cinque Terre trail
Climbs alternate with pretty pathways past vineyards and olive groves
Freshly harvested grapes for hungry hikers on the trail
Whew! Put those tired puppies in the water!
A café on the Via dell’ Amore (Lovers’ Lane), the last leg of the Cinque Terre
Waiting for our train home, we’ve time to admire the scenery Riomaggiore
A Riomaggiore resident.
Cinque Terre fishing boats
The waters is so clear because the Cinque Terre is a protected maritime park
A mermaid rises from the sea
In the evening, Ligurian seafood takes the spotlight.
Another scrumptious dish we'll taste: Pesto alla Genovese (with potatoes and green beans).
As our wine dinners demonstrate, “What grows together, goes together.”
Our destination on day 6: The hidden cove of San Fruttuoso and Portofino
What, another hill?! (That’s your guide, Pat Thomson.)
But ain't it worth it?
The end of the hike appears like a mirage. Gorgeous.
After our hike, we ferry to Portofino.
Dusk in Sestri Levante, our home base on the Riviera
A pre-dinner tasting on our hotel terrace
Vermentino and pigato, white wines as fresh as a sea breeze
Focaccia and farinata, still warm from the bakery, accompany our tasting
Here’s to a great tour!