Piedmont with Arlington

Benvenuto a Torino! Today we take in the beauty of the Piedmont region in Turin, which with its Baroque buildings, stone streets and towering Alps backdrop, is all too easy. The city’s open-air market—Europe’s largest—is alive and bustling, and we’ll dive right in. Our first taste of the city is a literal one: a food tour led by a local expert. We’ll sample regional cheese, and lunch on seasonal delicacies. Besides cheese and truffles, Turin is obsessed with chocolate (produced locally since 1560). So, of course, we’ll taste an array from legendary local chocolatiers including Gobino, Domori and D. Barbero, perhaps washed down with one of the city’s proudest inventions, a steaming Bicerin made of espresso, drinking chocolate, and milk.

We’ll reconvene in the evening for a pre-dinner aperitif and introduction to Turin’s Slow Food movement—a theme we’ll be exploring deliciously during the week ahead—followed by a welcome dinner as the sun dissolves behind the Alps, a truly epic first day.

Hold your morning cup of joe. Today, we’ll journey just outside Turin to the small town of Chieri to experience Piedmont’s coffee culture at Accademia Vergnano. Here, we’ll take an expert lesson in coffee cupping and roasting the slow and flavorful Piedmont way at Italy’s oldest coffee roaster.

Once back in the city center, the afternoon and evening are ours to spend exploring. Visit art galleries and museums, or relish city views from the observation deck of the National Cinema Museum. Or, if you’re craving a green escape from the city, snag some fresh fixings from a local market and have yourself a picnic along the River Po. Lie in the grass and let the sun lull you further into this Italian paradise. Just be sure to wake in time for dinner, perhaps at one of Turin’s seven Michelin-starred restaurants.

It’s time to head to Canelli, the birthplace of Italian sparkling wine. Vineyards stretch in all directions across the area’s gently rolling land, and it’s our mission to explore its flavors. In keeping with our slow-food theme, our dining will be localized to Canelli. We’ll visit with a cheese maker who produces the exquisite Tuma di Langa, a rindless sheep cheese made locally for centuries. We’ll cap the day at Contratto, a winery best known for its sparkling wine and prominent fanbase, including the Italian royal family, followed by dinner and a tour of the cellars at our vineyard-ensconced hotel, which happens to produce acclaimed Gavi and Barbera vintages. Salute!

Today, we start with private visit and tasting at Ettore Germano, a family-owned winery steeped in four generations of knowledge and a true leader in small scale, handcrafted ‘slow wine.’ Next stop on this wine-focused day is Podere Luigi Einaudi, founded by the second president of Italy who shared a passion for both politics and wine; his legacy continues in this bucolic family winery. We’ll have a private tasting and meet the winemakers.

The hunt is on for truffles! Led by a judge from the local Truffle Fair, you’ll retreat to the forest with specially trained dogs for a guided experience on locating, identifying and cooking up these flavorful fungi. And because a day of truffles deserves a hearty pairing, we’ll enjoy lunch at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, learning about Slow Food history over an unforgettable multi-course meal.

After, you’ll have time to unwind and relax, perhaps take a walk through the city or recline in Valentino Park. We’ll reconvene for dinner, which will be a hands-on cooking experience, celebrating our time together and incorporating the ethos of flavor we’ve experienced on our journey. 

Yesterday was your truffle primer—today is the main event. The Internazionale Tartufo Bianco (White Truffle Fair), for 90 years held each October and November in nearby Alba, is a gathering of people from around the world who appreciate flavorful food sourced ethically and locally. A local expert will guide us through the fair, explaining the many local flavors on display. In the evening, we’ll meet up for a farewell dinner to remember, with truffles as the star. Saluti to locally sourced food, bountiful wine, tasting truffles and the Italian experience!

All good things must come to an end. We’ll soak up the last of our time together over a big farewell breakfast before bidding final goodbyes. We’ll pack our bags and try our best to take one last mental picture of the magical Turin before heading out on afternoon flights. Until next time: Ciao!