Wine Lovers full day tour Lago Maggiore region
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Food & Wine - We love this magnificent region north of Milan, its strong red wines, the food and the cheeses!
PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE NOT REAL TIME BOOKINGS PLEASE EMAIL WITH YOUR DATES TO INQUIRE FOR AVAILABILITYA full day tour to discover the tastes and flavours of Valtellina: visit to an old grocery store dated 1883, wine tasting experience at two historic wineries plus lunch at a Michelin listed restaurant.
The Valtellina Valley is one of the hidden gems of Northern Italy just a two-hour drive north from Milan. If you are a wine lover this is an extraordinary destination to visit. Valtellina is the largest terraced vineyards area in Italy with its 2,500 kilometers of picturesque vineyards built over centuries is a candidate to be registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and thus get the same recognition as regions like Burgundy and the Champagne Valley. Due to the hilly georgraphy, everything in the vineyards is done by hand: during harvesting, quintals of bunches of grapes are carried in large baskets on the picker’s back along steep paths and steps to tractors for transportation to the wineries. Valtellina with its stunning alpine landscapes, its genuine gastronomy produces almost exclusively red wines, made of Chiavennasca, the local name for the Nebbiolo grape. The characteristics of these wines are less tannic and more delicate than Barolo or Barbaresco .
During this "wine lovers food & wine tasting tour” you will discover the taste and flavours of this magnificient region. Get on board our private minibus in Varenna and start your journey!
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Our first stop will be at a famous and old “Bottega” (grocery store) of the valley dated 1883 for a taste of the two typical cheeses of the region, the well-rounded forms of aged Bitto and Casera hidden in back rooms surrounded by an astonishing succession of vaults, columns and beehive cells. The artisan rules of conservation, care and aging of typical Valtellinese natural products have been handed down from generation to generation by this family despite the changing trends.
The trip continues along the valley to a small historic Valtellina winery located in the ancient home of the noble Quadrio, in Chiuro for an unforgettable 3 wine tasting experience accompanied by cheese and cold meat specialties like the famous bresaola di Valtellina, air-dried salted beef. The winemaker Paolo carries on the family tradition with his sons Luca and Matteo respecting as much as possible the long aging time of Nebbiolo. This is the only winery at the moment that uses the precious antioxidant active ingredients of grapes to produce anti-aging creams, based on red wine.
Lunch will be served in a Michelin listed restaurant renowned for highlighting the ancient land flavors in its dishes. This is the best time to relax and get to know your travelling companions while enjoying the world famous typical dish of “pizzoccheri” (pasta made with buckwheat floor, topped with Casera cheese, butter and cabbage) and the “sciatt”, delicious cheese-filled buckwheat fritters.
The tour continues after lunch to your last stop - a visit to the most historic and largest winery of Valtellina born more than a century ago: Casa Vinicola Nino Negri. You will be guided through a labyrinth of cellars under Palazzo Quadrio, the company's headquarters, where you will be so amazed by the number of barrels and underground rooms while experiencing the tasting of 4 different wines so interesting that you won’t notice that you have come out in another part of the village.
This concludes your Valtellina experience and now enjoy the journey back to Varenna admiring the beautiful landscapes that surrounds Lake Como.
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The tour is in English but we can cater for groups of at least 8 adults in Italian, please check with us for other language availability.
Departs: Mon, 8:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 hours
Minimum number: 2 adults
Price: Adult from Euro 250 (group discount: 4 people - Euro 200pp)
What's Included
Private minibus transfer.
Visit to an old charming Bottega (grocery store) dated 1883 plus tasting of delicious local cheeses (Bitto, Casera) .
Guided wine tasting at an historic small winery (3 wines) accompanied with cheese and cold cuts.
Special lunch at a Michelin listed Restaurant (starter, pizzoccheri, water, a glass of wine and coffee).
Visit and guided wine tasting at the famous Cantine Nino Negri winery (4 wines) accompanied with local specialties.
What's not included
Hotel pick-up and drop-off (please contact us for a quotation).
The costs of any souvenirs/ drinks / snacks / meals that are not explicitly listed in the programme.
Important Notes:
The tour is not recommended for pregnant women and children due to alcohol consumption.
No pets allowed.
Comfortable shoes and clothes are advisable. Please bring a light jacket/jumper with you as temperature in the cellars could be cold.
Not wheelchair accessible.
The meeting and end point are well connected to public transport.
Please bring a bottle of water; alternatively you can purchase one near the meeting point.
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
The tour runs rain or shine.
Please remember that bookings are made on a first come, first served basis.
Cancellation
If you want to cancel your booked tour send us an email.
If you cancel your tour 7 or more days before your tour you shall be fully refunded.
There are no refunds if you cancel your tour less than 7 days (168 hours) before the start of your tour.
There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour (our tours start promptly, the guide shall not be able to linger).
If you need to reschedule your booked tour we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please contact us directly by email or phone. In case we cannot meet your needs and you decide to cancel, no refund shall be given for tours that are cancelled with 7 of fewer days notice.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions policy
Collections: Experience Food and Wine, Northern Italy - Stay,Savour & Experience, Top Things to do in Northern Italy - Lake Como, Maggiore, Piedmont
Category: experience food Italy, Food and Walking Tour, Food and wine, food and wine Italy, food experiences in Italy, Food Italy, Italy, Lago Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake como food tour, Lake district italy, Piedmont, walking and food tour
Type: Food & Wine experience
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