Piedmont with Nick Strawhecker

Benvenuti a Torino. The best place to begin is right in the heart of it all, wandering from wide, stately boulevards to the crooked charm of cobblestone alleys, tracing stories carved into stone over thousands of years. With Nick by your side and a local expert to lead the way, you’ll uncover architectural gems—from the regal sweep of the Royal Palace to San Lorenzo’s soaring dome and the literary echoes of Palazzo Carignano.

As twilight softens the skyline and the city sparkles to life, we’ll sit down for dinner at a cherished local favorite—an introduction to Piedmont through food, generosity, and a shared table.

Our first taste of the city this morning is a literal one: a behind-the-scenes food tour of Torino’s fabled coffeehouses. We’ll sample exquisite pastries, snack on seasonal delicacies, and last—but not least—we’ll dive into the beautifully complex world of Italian chocolate and one of the city’s proudest inventions: a steaming Bicerin made of espresso and drinking chocolate.

After lunch on our own, we make our pilgrimage to the countryside where our Piedmont wine education begins. Here, within one of Italy’s most heralded appellations, we’ll sample the eclectic and volatile Nebbiolo varietal made from grapes originally planted by the Romans.

After reconciling the subtly of these stunning vintages, we’ll move on to one of the most unique places in all of Piedmont. It’s not a stunning vineyard or ancient amphitheater. It’s Ivrea, a mid-century planned industrial utopia—a shining example of the ideals of the Movimento Comunità that pervaded Piedmont in the 1950s and ’60s. We’ll pass by the headquarters of Olivetti, the makers of coveted typewriters, and marvel at the blueprints of this ambitious social experiment.

Dinner tonight is magical and quintessentially Piedmontese; we’ll indulge in a perfectly wine-paired dinner led by a local sommelier.

Today, we venture to the outskirts and find ourselves learning the art of soft cheese with a master cheesemaker. In the villa of Costigliole d’Asti, we’ll work our ways through mozzarella and burrata, tasting as we go, of course.

Since brilliant cheese requires brilliant wine, we’ll continue onto a family estate, just down the road. We’ll visit Cascina Roera for an immersive visit of the vineyard, including a flight of rare vintages paired with a catered meal from a local trattoria.

This isn’t just any winery. This is a small-batch operation that preaches minimal interference in the vineyards. We’ll witness this philosophy as we tour the estate and tease out the nuances of these particular vintages. As the late light of the afternoon slips into the valley, we’ll make our way to Langhe and check into our picturesque hotel.

We’ll then move on to the University of Pollenzo for a tour of its historic campus before descending into their coveted Wine bank, which features more than 100,000 bottles of Italy’s rarest and most celebrated wines. In the evening, we’ll reconvene for a lively and intimate dinner in the garden at our hotel.

This morning, sunlight filters through colonnades and tiled roofs as we arrive in Bra’s bustling market square, the air thick with the scent of ripe stone fruit, aged cheeses, and just-baked focaccia. As vendors call out their wares, we collect the ingredients for tonight’s dinner. From here, a scenic drive carries us to the medieval hamlet of Alba. The city is the undisputed capital of truffles and hazelnuts—in fact Ferrero has its headquarters in the heart of downtown. Before settling in for lunch at a beloved local osteria, we’ll stroll the pedestrian zone and take in the rich splendor of the architecture, not to mention the thriving art scene.

After, we return to Pollenzo for a restful pause. As evening falls, the kitchen fills with warmth and laughter: pasta is rolled, sauces simmer, and the day’s market finds are transformed into a shared feast in an edible love letter to Piedmont.

The hunt is on for truffles! Led by an expert trifolau, we’ll retreat to the forest with specially trained dogs for a guided experience on locating, identifying, and cooking up these flavorful fungi. Walking the forests of Langhe is pure magic—as we tramp through brushstrokes of fallen leaves, we’ll listen for a few secrets and tricks of this ancient tradition.

Hunting for truffles is hard work, but don’t worry, a sumptuous award is in store. We’ll meander down the road to one of the most revered kitchens in all of Piedmont. We’ll treat ourselves to a midday vermouth and a few courses of pasta-heavy specialties.

What’s next? One of the region’s most picturesque and biodynamic wineries. After a private tasting of their award-winning vintages alongside a few local delicacies, we find ourselves wandering the rows of a majestic, organic hazelnut grove. Here, we’ll sample all kinds of local favorites, witness their handed-down harvest techniques, and learn how to elevate these nuts with just the right type of chocolate.

To round out the day, we’ll make our way back to the hotel just in time for sunset. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy.

This morning begins in Barbaresco, where the hills roll in layered folds of vineyard and mist, and the names on the cellar doors carry serious weight. We’ll make our way to a small winery in the village of Neive where we’re welcomed for a tour and intimate tasting—small production, family-run, and fiercely committed to Nebbiolo in its most expressive form.

Lunch is just down the road at a beloved local haunt known for its intimate setting and expansive wine list, where even the bread feels reverent. In the afternoon, we let the road decide—perhaps Barolo, perhaps La Morra—two villages steeped in winemaking legacy, where cobblestones echo with slow footsteps and conversations drift out of cantinas.

Thanks to the smoky varietals of the Barbaresco appellation, we’ll practically float back to the hotel. Once arrived, there’s time to pause, pack, or simply sit with the day’s discoveries.

It’s now we rest, for our farewell dining experience is truly incredible. Tonight, we gather for a dinner that speaks to the soul of Piedmont. It’s a meal worthy of reflection—on wines tasted, friendships formed, and the unforgettable rhythm of this region’s kitchens and hills. We’ll sit down together and toast to an incredible week of discovery and exhilaration.

Arrivederci! All beautiful things must end, and so we go our separate ways. After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll transfer to the Torino airport to catch our flights onward and home. Until next time: Ciao!