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5 Day Food and Wine Heaven Private Culinary Tour from Parma in Northern Italy
Parma, Italy
Wine and Food Tour in Italy
Discover the best wineries in the two biggest wine estate areas of northern Italy, namely Emilia and Franciacorta region in this private 5-day tour. Taste some of the world appreciated Italian food excellence such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. With the comfort of private transportation and driver throughout the tour, you will visit small producers, wineries and workshops, learning the processes that lead to the creation of these excellences of Italian food and wine.
Highlights
- Private guided tour just for your group
- Visits and tastings in the region of Franciacorta
- Tours and tastings at wine makers’ in Emilia Romagna
- Visit to a producer of real traditional balsamic vinegar with final tasting
- 4 nights luxury accommodation at the very real heart of the Italian Food Valley
- Gourmet tour with Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma ham tasting
- 3 typical courses paired with local wines for lunches and dinners
- Visit and tasting of a Culatello di Zibello maker
Styles
4 days with instruction
Accommodation
You will be accommodated for two nights at Relais de Charme in the hills of Parma as well as two nights at a country chic resort in the Franciacorta area.
Program
Day 1: Arrival and welcome dinner
Pick up from Milan or Bologna Airport. Private transfer to the province of Parma, the very real heart of the Italian Food Valley. Check-in at a historical and charming Castle Relais in the hills surrounding the city. Free time. Typical dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight at the Relais.
Day 2: Wine tour, Culatello Di Zibello and Corte Pallavicina
Breakfast at the Relais and head on to visit one of the best wineries of the nearby province of Piacenza, which real connaisseurs will discover as one of the richest wine estate areas of Italy, with up to 18 PDO wines ranging from local to international varieties, to start with its still or sparkling elegant red Gutturnio. Tasting lunch at the end of the visit.
On the way back to Parma, stop-by gt the charming fortified village with its own fortress in Vigoleno: a walk within its high walls will let you live a romantic escape and the unmistakable atmosphere of the Italian Middle Ages…and don’t forget to try a sip of Vin Santo, a liqueur wine produced in minimal quantities only by the best vintages.
The last must-stop in a completely different landscape, i.e., the lowlands of the Po River, will make your day: you can’t skip the emotion of combining Culatello di Zibello PDO, one of Italy’s most artisanal cured meats, with the local sparkling red/rosé Fortana del Taro. This magic combo will be served in another castle which nowadays houses not only the ageing of Culatello but also a Michel starred restaurant and a country-chic Relais de Charme: no need to add a dinner after it! Back to the hotel and overnight.
Day 3: Torrechiara, Prosciutto Di Parma, Parmigiano factory and balsamic vinegar
Check out and meet your guide in Parma and start your tour of the Food Valley icons! First of all, visit an authentic producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO. You'll first see the handmade, then the salting process in the pools and finally the "wheel cathedrals", real walls mountains of cheese in a single room. Tasting at the end.
Photo stop at the medieval Castle of Torrechiara dominated by its romantic castle: for sure the most spectacular amidst the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and Northern Italy, dating back to 1448 DC. After that, you will visit one of the family-run Prosciutto di Parma factories producing the mythical Prosciutto di Parma. You will get to know why the best ham can only be made in the hills of Parma, where the Marino wind blows from the Ligurian Sea through the so-called Food Valley of Italy.
You will then have a full lunch based on the typical products of the territory in a farm-to-table restaurant Parmigiano, Prosciutto as well as other kinds of local cold cuts, a typically filled pasta dish (Tortelli di Parma), homemade cakes. All paired up with local wines like Lambrusco and Malvasia!
In the afternoon, transfer to the province of Reggio Emilia OR Modena for a guided visit and final tasting at a family-run production site of traditional balsamic vinegar PDO. End of activities and transfer to the Franciacorta wine region between lake Iseo and Lake Garda (administratively: Lombardia). Check-in at a local luxury country resort with a welcome drink and a typical dinner to follow.
Day 4: Franciacorta wine tour
Breakfast at the hotel and head on to your tour at the discovery of the Franciacorta PDO wines. First of all, you’ll have to visit Berlucchi, worldwide famous for their different kinds of precious spumante wines made according to the classic champagne method. Final tasting at the end of the visit and typical lunch at one of the typical restaurants of the area.
In the afternoon, visit another world-famous winery located in a spectacular location called Bellavista. After the cellar tour, you’ll experience their unforgettable tasting of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero. Final dinner in a restaurant of the area and night at the hotel.
Day 5: Departure
Breakfast. Check out. End of services. Optional transfer to Verona or Milan Airport.
Location
Province of Parma is the very real heart of the Italian Food Valley. The starting point will be the elegant Wine Relais Hotel, while the tour is also enriched by the visit of ancient medieval castles like Torrechiara Castle, and exclusive locations where you can have lunch and dinner.
Food
Food highlights
- Daily breakfast
- 3 full menu lunches (3 typical courses paired with local wines)
- 3 full menu dinners (3 typical courses paired with local wines)
- 1 tasting dinner
- Wine tasting in Emilia Romagna
- Wine tasting in the region of Franciacorta
- Real traditional balsamic vinegar tasting
- Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma ham tasting
- Culatello di Zibello tasting
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 2 nights at Relais de Charme in the hills of Parma
- 2 nights at a country chic resort in the Franciacorta area
- 3 full menu dinners (3 typical courses paired with local wines)
- 1 tasting dinner
- 3 full menu lunches (3 typical courses paired with local wines)
- 2 guided tours and tastings at wine makers’ in Emilia Romagna
- 2 guided visits and tastings in the region of Franciacorta
- 1 guided visit to a producer of real traditional balsamic vinegar with final tasting
- 1 guided gourmet tour with Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma ham tasting
- 1 guided visit and tasting of a Culatello di Zibello maker
- Daily breakfast
- Private airport transfer on arrival
- Private transportation throughout the tour
What's not included
- Flights
- Spa services on request
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookCulinaryVacations.com. All major credit cards supported.
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